Editorial: Cyber laws are needed

FEW will argue with the intent behind attempts to crack down on cyber-bullying.

For too long now, the law has lagged behind technology in cracking down on behaviours enabled by the ease of mass communication and publishing.

Now Justice Minister Judith Collins has asked the Law Commission to fast-track its recommendations for reducing the harm caused by cyber-bullying. Among potential changes are to make it a crime to maliciously impersonate another person online.

Perhaps it's unfair to say lawmakers have been battling to stay abreast of changes in technology. More so, it is the accessibility and ease with which we can communicate that have caused problems.

Text messages and social media have long been areas of concern - chief coroner Judge Neil MacLean spoke out at the weekend of how cyber bullying, youth suicide and drug abuse were constant themes confronting coroners. He talked of the need to educate, and urged parents and others to learn what they could about these technologies, used so willingly and readily.

All our lives are more immersed in technology, and so much of what was once private is now public. All you need is a device and connection and you can broadcast or publish to a mass audience. That some choose to do so to inflict pain or misery on others is unfortunate but that is also the reality. And the ease of doing so means that the sender or publisher doesn't stop to think of the ramifications. So as well as education, laws do need to be kept up to date with these changes and to address what is a significant problem.

Dealing with the issue, though, will be no easy task, as we need to protect people's freedoms. However the ultimate freedom is to live without fear of attack, whether that be physical or verbal or delivered via technology.

Feedback: editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nz.