KUALA LUMPUR:Body shaming on social media is nothing new, with seemingly nothing able to be done to stop cyberbullying.
Recently, a 21-year-old girl who was doing a live make-up tutorial was bullied by TikTok users who said she was ugly and should wear a helmet.
However, she did not make a report about the abusive remarks to the authorities.
Another victim, Sophia, 40, said she was body shamed by a person claiming to be a fitness coach who uploaded her picture on Facebook and then criticised her for being flabby.
Sophia said she made a police report, and even though she forwarded it to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), she has not seen action taken.
These examples of apathy could lead to victims experiencing emotional distress or committing suicide.
Lawyer, Nor Zabetha Muhammad Nor, said victims who want justice and cyberbullies to stop their behaviour must first and foremost lodge a complaint with the police and MCMC at its website (www.mcmc.gov.my).
"In these kinds of cases, screenshots of degrading digital messages can serve as evidence. The victim should collect relevant evidence, such as the background of the abuser and their comments, for further action.
“Commentators have a right to comment because it is the freedom of speech guaranteed by the Constitution. Nevertheless, that freedom has limits, too. You can’t go on saying things that defame someone,” she said, while adding that perpetrators can be charged under the Defamation Act 1957.
She said that a person could also be charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998 which states that it is an offence for anyone to make a menacing or offensive comment with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person.
"If found guilty, a person who commits the said offence could be liable to a fine not exceeding RM50,000 and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year," she said.
Another lawyer, Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman, said culprits can also be brought to book under the Penal Code.
"Section 509 of the Penal Code states that any person who insults the modesty of another, either by uttering words or through a gesture shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and/or a fine, if found guilty.
“Meanwhile, Section 499 of the Penal Code states that a person who by words either spoken or intended to be read, or by signs or by visible representations, makes or publishes any imputation concerning any person intending to harm, is said to defame that person," he said.
If found guilty, the person shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years and/or fine, Shahrul added.
"So every time before clicking the ‘send’ button, one should know that comments and statements may annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person and could expose oneself to a criminal offence," he said, while cautioning cyberbullies that crime does not go unpunished.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Sat Jan 23 2021
Victims who want justice and cyberbullies to stop their behaviour must first and foremost lodge a complaint with the police and MCMC at its website (www.mcmc.gov.my) Image via unsplash
Bekas gabenor New York, anak tiri diserang empat individu
Kedua-dua mangsa mengalami kecederaan di bahagian muka serta badan dan dikejarkan ke hospital untuk menerima rawatan.
Tentera AS lancar serangan di bandar Yaman
AS menyerang 15 sasaran Houthi di kawasan yang dikawal oleh kumpulan yang disokong Iran itu.
Korea Selatan pindahkan 97 rakyatnya dari Lubnan
Kementerian Luar Korea Selatan maklumkan, kesemua mereka tiba di Korea Selatan pada petang Sabtu.
Pelarian tiba di Syria selepas serangan Israel ke atas Lubnan - UNHCR
Lebih 200,000 warga Syria dan Lubnan telah tiba di Syria dari Lubnan sejak serangan Israel bermula 23 September lalu.
[LAPOR LANGSUNG] Lebih 2,000 terkorban di Lubnan akibat serangan Israel
Jumlah mangsa yang maut itu termasuk 261 wanita dan 127 kanak-kanak.
Lebih 2,000 terkorban di Lubnan akibat serangan Israel
Laporan Al Jazeera menyebut, jumlah mangsa yang maut itu termasuk 261 wanita dan 127 kanak-kanak.
AWANI Pagi: Pendayaupayaan Pembangunan Sosio Ekonomi Bagi Memacu Wilayah Persekutuan
Ikuti temu bual bersama Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Wilayah Persekutuan), Dr Zaliha Mustafa di #AWANIPagi jam 7.30 pagi di saluran 501 Astro AWANI.
Pentagon, Jabatan Negara AS beri amaran jenayah perang Israel
Pegawai-pegawai tersebut telah memberi amaran peningkatan jumlah kematian di Gaza mungkin melanggar undang-undang antarabangsa.
200,000 pelarian tiba di Syria selepas serangan Israel ke atas Lubnan - UNHCR
Lebih 200,000 warga Syria dan Lubnan telah tiba di Syria dari Lubnan sejak serangan Israel bermula pada 23 Sept.
Belanjawan 2025: Kesalinghubungan internet di sekolah, kampus jadi keutamaan - Fahmi
Kementerian Komunikasi akan memberikan keutamaan dengan meneruskan usaha untuk meningkatkan dan memantapkan lagi prasarana kesalinghubungan melibatkan isu Internet, dalam Belanjawan 2025 yang akan dibentangkan pada 18 Okt ini.
Tiada kaitan dengan pelantikan CEO MDEC, Anuar Fariz bukan adik saya - Fahmi
Menteri Komunikasi Fahmi Fadzil menyangkal dakwaan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) baharu Perbadanan Ekonomi Digital Malaysia (MDEC) Anuar Fariz Fadzil merupakan adiknya.
Aplikasi Facebook dikemas kini untuk menarik pengguna lebih muda
Ciri terbaharu ini sedang diuji di Amerika Syarikat dan Kanada.
TikTok Shop Summit kembali, bakal beri manfaat kepada PMKS
Jenama tempatan berpeluang meneroka peluang pertumbuhan baharu melalui sesi pemadanan dengan pencipta kandungan terkemuka.
Buli siber pempengaruh Esha, pemandu lori dipenjara 12 bulan
Seorang pemandu lori dipenjara 12 bulan oleh Mahkamah Sesyen kerana membuat dan menggunakan komunikasi lucah serta mengaibkan pempengaruh TikTok, Esha yang maut dipercayai dibuli, empat tahun lepas.
Akaun TikTok jual dadah dalam bentuk lolipop telah disekat - Fahmi
TikTok telah mengambil tindakan terhadap satu akaun pengguna dengan menurunkan kandungan jualan dadah dalam bentuk lolipop selepas ia tular di media sosial.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
TikTok berdepan larangan di AS di tengah-tengah ketegangan AS-China
TikTok, platform video pendek dengan kira-kira 1.6 bilion pengguna di seluruh dunia dan 170 juta di Amerika Syarikat (AS), kekal sebagai pusat ketegangan geopolitik antara AS dan China.
MAHA 2024: NAFAS tampil kelainan dengan inovasi sektor baja, pertanian moden
Bersempena penganjuran MAHA 2024, Pertubuhan Peladang Kebangsaan (NAFAS) akan menampilkan kelainan dengan inovasi dalam sektor baja, pertanian moden serta produk makanan sejuk beku jenama Peladang.
Siti Nurhaliza kongsi pengalaman, cabaran harungi dunia bisnes 'online'
Siti akui tidak pernah berhenti menuntut dan berkongsi ilmu bagi menambah baik kandungan di platform media sosial, termasuk memahami keupayaan media sosial dalam aspek pemasaran.
RUU Keselamatan Dalam Talian menyeluruh termasuk melindungi hak kanak-kanak
Rang Undang-Undang (RUU) Keselamatan Dalam Talian yang dijangka di bentang Oktober depan, bersifat menyeluruh dan mengambil kira jenayah siber yang mungkin berlaku termasuk melibatkan kanak-kanak.