Tough new rules will make cyberbullying an offence - Penrose

Online abuse is to be made an offence under new rules brought out today, Labour TD Willie Penrose has said.
He was speaking as a report on internet safety report was published today by an expert group established by Minister for Communications, Pat Rabbitte.
“Online bullying and harassment are relatively new phenomena, but they can cause anguish and severe distress for innocent young people.
“This report sets out clear, practical steps to deal with cyberbullying. Crucially, it addresses an anomaly which exempted online abuse from the law dealing with threatening, indecent or offensive messages. Now, sending abuse by 'electronic communications’, or cyberbullying, will be included as an offence under the law,” said Deputy Penrose.
“To ensure greater safety online for children in public areas, a new family-friendly logo will be developed, that lets users know a public wi-fi access point is filtering adult content,” he added.
“At government level, a new National Council for Child Internet Safety will ensure that the issue of online abuse is not allowed to fall off the radar.
“This report will now go to government, and Minister Rabbitte has made it clear that he is determined to act on its recommendations, which will make for a safer environment for young people online.”