Lt. Anthony Ritter New Jersey State Police Cyber Crimes Bureau

Transcription

1 Lt. Anthony Ritter New Jersey State Police Cyber Crimes Bureau Good evening, I am Lt. Anthony Ritter of the New Jersey State Police, Cyber Crimes Bureau. I will be taking the next few minutes to explain to you: - What cyberbullying is. - What is contributing to this new phenomenon. - Tools and mediums being used by our kids. - How you should react to cyberbullying when you come across it. - How law enforcement responds to these incidents. - And finally I will provide you with some real-life cyberbullying stories. 1

2 Cyber Bullying Is Defined As: Using electronic communications to harass, threaten, antagonize, or intimidate another person. This includes s, instant messages, text messages, chat room and/or web log postings, i.e. myspace.com, etc Posing as someone else for purposes of harassing them or others. Using a persons picture or a digitally enhanced image without their permission. CYBER BULLYING IS DEFINED AS: Bullet 1: Using electronic communications to harass, threaten, antagonize, or intimidate another person. Bullet 2: This includes s, instant messages, text messages, chat room and/or web log postings, such as myspace.com, etc Bullet 3: Posing as someone else for purposes of harassing them or others. Bullet 4: Using a persons picture or a digitally enhanced image without their permission. 2

3 Contributing Factors The Internet: A New Medium for Harassment The Availability of Electronic Communication Devices and Access Points Perceived Anonymity Provides a False Sense of Security Popularity of the Internet THE INTERNET IS A NEW MEDIUM FOR HARASSMENT, LET S LOOK AT THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. Bullet 1: The availability of electronic communication devices and access points such as laptops, PDA s, cell phones, digital cameras, digital recorders, wireless internet access. Bullet 2: Perceived anonymity provides a false sense of security. Cryptic screen names, false identities, and online lingo only provide anonymity on the surface. Every packet of information sent back and forth across the Internet has the address of the senders computer and the address of the receivers computer. You are NOT really anonymous. Bullet 3: Popularity of the Internet. There are approximately 1 Billion users on the Internet today. There are over 200 Million in the United States alone and many are up to no good. 3

4 Once Something Is Posted Online It Can NEVER Be Retracted Once Something Is Posted Online It Can NEVER Be Retracted. 4

5 Tools of the Always On Generation What are the Tools of the Always On Generation? 5

6 Instant Messaging & Chat Rooms: ICQ AIM MSN Yahoo! INSTANT MESSAGING & CHAT ROOMS While you may be amazed at how your child is capable of multi-tasking 12 conversations at once, Instant Messaging and Chat Rooms can be dangerous and addicting when unregulated and under supervised. 6

7 MySpace.com MYSPACE.COM Known as an Online Social Networking website, MySpace alone claims 41 million subscribers worldwide already - more than 90 percent between age 14 and 30 - and is pulling in 150,000 more each day. That is how "you can tell who the popular kids are," said one high school freshman. She also asked for anonymity, not only because of racyphotos but also because she lists herself in her profile as 16, which she hardly is. 7

8 friendster.com FRIENDSTER.COM We are conditioned to follow each other's lives through the Web. said Steven Friedman, a high school senior. "It is," as he put it, "just the next evolution of social interaction." 8

9 facebook.com FACEBOOK.COM Facebook requires your school address in order to participate, which forces most of the older predators to hunt elsewhere, but does little to stop the exuberantly charged youth. 9

10 Hate Websites HATE WEBSITES Getting pages like this taken offline is easy for the most part. The problem that created this situation may also be resolved offline. Sometimes simply talking face to face with authorities is all that is needed. Arresting and prosecuting children is not a solution we aspire to achieve, stopping the behavior is. 10

11 Text Messaging & Camera Phones TEXT MESSAGING & CAMERA PHONES Text Messaging attacks can cause increased charges on your phone bill. Cell phone cameras are used for upskirting humiliation and locker room antics which can quickly spread nude photos of your child around the world. 11

12 Polling Sites POLLING SITES Polling Web sites, which are growing in number, invite students to identify individuals by both flattering and unflattering characteristics, such as the most obese person at their school, the boys mostly likely to be gay, and the girls who have slept with the most boys. The predictable consequences for students subjected to this shameful treatment are depression, hopelessness, and withdrawal. 12

13 Bias Intimidation BIAS INITIMIDATION Victimization because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation or ethnicity in combination with another crime will raise the level of the crime by one degree. This means a fourth degree harassment complaint that includes bias intimidation becomes a crime of the third degree with higher penalties. 13

14 We All Play a Role in Internet Safety Students Educators Parents Law Enforcement WE ALL PLAY A ROLE IN INTERNET SAFETY Awareness Programs Such as these, teach parents what s going on. School Policies Creating and implementing active, living policy documents that everyone must regularly read and acknowledge eliminates the fear of reporting bullying incidents by students. Supervision by Parents Computers that are in plain view with parental oversight and daily interaction. Communicate about activities and have them regularly identify their online friends to you. Teaching Programs Schools must teachchildren netiquette, values, and good communication skills with empathy toward the child s environment. 14

15 Reacting to Cyber Threats DO NOT respond, this just entices the sender. Report the sender to the Internet Service Provider and Local Authorities. Save any messages so they may be properly investigated. Print or save the chat or web page. REACTING TO CYBER THREATS Bullet 1: DO NOT respond to what has been sent, this just entices the sender. Bullet 2: Report the sender to the Internet Service Provider and Local Authorities. Bullet 3: Save any messages so they may be properly investigated. Bullet 4: Print or save the chat or web page. Not all incidents are criminal. Freedom of speech is still a constitutional right for ALL Americans. Call a legal or law enforcement professional to determine if the intent of the incident has crossed the lines where it warrants civil or criminal action. REMEMBER: Tinkering with potential computer evidence could result in it being inadmissible in court CALL A PROFESSIONAL RIGHT AWAY. 15

16 Responding to Cyber Threats 2C:12-3 Terroristic Threats 2C:12-10 Stalking 2C:13-6 Luring (Child) 2C:13-7 Luring (Adult) 2C:16-1 Bias Intimidation 2C:20-25 Computer Criminal Activity 2C:20-31 Wrongful Access, Disclosure of Information 2C:21-1 Forgery/Possession of Forgery Devices 2C:21-17 Impersonation: Theft of Identity 2C:24-4 Endangering Welfare of Children 2C:29-3 Hindering Apprehension 2C:33-4 Harassment RESPONDING TO CYBER THREATS Depending on circumstances, one or more of these criminal charges may be applied. Civil actions may be taken in addition to criminal actions. REMEMBER: Parents and guardians are ultimately responsible for their child s activities. 16

17 There is NO right to privacy on the Internet There is NO right to privacy on the Internet. 17

18 Here is a real life story provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children entitled "Cyberbullying: You Can't Take It Back. Video Source: 18

19 Here is another real life scenario provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children entitled Cyberbullying: Broken Friendship. Video Source: 19

20 Thank you and Welcome to Parenting in the 21 st Century! Lt. Anthony Ritter New Jersey State Police Thank you for your attention. Questions and Handouts. 20