If you are an internet user, then you will have likely come
across cyberbullying in one way or another. Cyberbullying typically
manifests in harassing behaviour, such as sending a person
offensive or threatening messages, posting embarrassing comments or
photos about someone, spreading rumours or misinformation about
someone online, sending or posting nude or
sexual images without the person's consent, or pretending
to be someone online with the intention of humiliating them.
In some cases, cyberbullying is a crime under national or
Victorian law. We outline some key criminal offences below.
Using a Carriage Service to Menace, Harass or Cause
Offence
It is a crime to use a device or the internet in a
'menacing, harassing or offensive way'.1 The
test for determining what is menacing, harassing or offensive is
whether a 'reasonable person' would consider it so. In a
recent case, an accused had been drinking with friends. He
prank-called his mother-in-law multiple
