Managing the risks of cyber bullying at work / Wan Rosalili Wan Rosli … [et al.]

With the advent of ICT, cyber harassment especially cyber bullying has become more prevalent than ever before, particularly in the modern workplaces. Such crime is an example of a traditional crime that has transcended to cyberspace due to the advancement of technology and the explosion of various social media platforms. Despite considerable public concerns about such crime in Malaysia, legislative sanction is problematic given the deficiency of the current laws governing cyber bullying. The legal landscape governing cyber bullying are still inadequate given the current legal framework being too general which makes it difficult for investigation and prosecution of the crime. Cyber Bullying could lead to Post-Traumatic Disorder, psychological issues, serious physical and mental health disorders and also suicide. The objective of this paper is to examine the concepts of harassment involving cyber bullying, the risks of such crimes and the legal as well as the management modalities dealing with such crimes. This paper employs a doctrinal content analysis and secondary data from the law, academic journals, books, and online databases. The authors contend that the unequal power relation in the workplace, anonymity and trans-border connectivity are some of the rationales for cyber bullying, which could manifest in various forms with adverse implications for employers and employees alike. As bullying has shifted from the real world, to cyberspace, it posed a greater risk to the victims than ever before. Managing such crime is imperative given the inadequacy of the current traditional and computer-specific laws in dealing with such crime.