CYBER-BULLYING is on the rise, and not everybody is ready for it. And, for that matter, not everyone knows how to deal with it.

Nanyang Technological University undergraduate Gerald Chen, 24, was an unfortunate victim this year. For about eight days, he was attacked by a cyber-mob in April on the Straits Times discussion board after he wrote to the letters page of the same paper.

In his letter, he had complained about The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf staff turning off the power supply as he was charging his laptop.

A flurry of criticism directed at Mr Chen exploded on the online forum. Epithets such as "cheapskate", "mental case", "nitwit" and "a disgrace to coffee patrons" were thrown around.

Worse, Netizens trawled for information on Mr Chen and what they thought was his photograph from the Internet, and posted a link to the photo on the forum.

Mr Chen told my paper last week: "Actually, that wasn't my photo. It was someone else's. Poor guy." But the forum members were able to locate his blog address by using a search engine, and left a string of taunting comments there.

As a result, he had to block public access to the blog. While there were Netizens who spoke in defence of Mr Chen on the discussion board, the latter admitted that he "felt victimised".

"I certainly didn't expect the backlash and it did not feel good...I am definitely more guarded now about the power of the Internet."

While there are no official statistics available, several lawyers my paper spoke to confirmed that cyber-bullying cases are on the increase here.

Mr Adrian Tan, 42, a director at Drew & Napier, said the number of cyber-bullying cases he had handled so far this year is "double the figure of last year's". So, what measures can one take against it?

Mr Foo Cheow Ming, 43, a lawyer from KhattarWong law partnership, said: "It depends on what was done. Some acts are criminal in nature. Some give rise to civil actions. Some fall under both categories."

Civil action is a court case or trial brought by private citizens against another party.

my paper offers a few likely scenarios and asks experts what steps should be taken.

Scenario 1

Anonymous parties on online forums use search engines to retrieve information about someone else, such as his or her academic/occupational history and photographs.

The material may then be used against him or her in online discussions. Anyone can freely hold discussions about someone else if the information and photos are "already in the public domain", said Mr Foo.

However, if it crosses the line from "making fun" of someone to defamation, then action can be taken, he said.

Mr Foo explained: "Defamation is any representation or word which would lower a person's reputation and esteem in the regard of his peers."

Once defamation is established, "it is both a civil action and a criminal offence", he said.

Victims of defamation "may sue for injunctive relief". This means that a court order can be issued to stop the culprit and claim for damages.

Defamation is also punishable with imprisonment of up to two years or a fine, or both.

Scenario 2

An attacker sets up a hate site on someone containing negative comments and caricatures.

If defamation is established, the same punishment applies, said Mr Foo.

Scenario 3

A person or a group of people fabricates information that is damaging to a person's reputation on a public blog, in a forum posting, circulated e-mail or on a social-networking site.

Mr Tan said: "Such actions amount to defamation. The site owners can be asked to take down such material, and they will usually comply."

Scenario 4

Attackers using details found online to harass someone via e-mail or phone.

Mr Tan said: "If there is any threat made, then the victim can report the matter to the police.Threats are a criminal offence."

If the victim is a civil servant and the offence was committed in response to his work, Section 189 of the Penal Code is invoked against threats issued to a public servant.

Blogger Gopalan Nair was charged under this section of the law, said Mr Tan, for insulting a High Court judge in a posting on his blog.

Scenario 5

A cyber-bully impersonates another person on a blog, forum posting or social-networking site.

Lawyers say that impersonating alone does not constitute criminal behaviour.

It becomes criminal when the impersonator commits defamatory or cheating acts while assuming someone else's identity.

Mr Tan added: "The easiest way to deal with such matters is to complain to the owners of the forum or site.

"It is important for the victim to realise that he has to take action and not wait for the authorities to step in.Self-help is necessary."

cheryll@sph.com.sg

For more my paper stories click here.