Governing the Risks of Cyber Bullying in the Workplace During the Era of Covid-19

Abstract

With the advancement of ICT, cyberbullying has become more common than ever before, particularly in modern workplaces. With the requirement of working from home during the pandemic, cyberbullying within the workplace has skyrocketed within the past year. Cyberbullying can be classified as a traditional crime that has transcended to cyberspace as a result of technological advancements and the proliferation of numerous social media platforms. Despite widespread public concern about such crime in Malaysia, the legislative response to this crime is still somewhat slow due to the gaps in the current legislation governing cyberbullying. The legal landscape governing cyberbullying is still insufficient, due to the current legal framework being too general, making investigation and prosecution of the crime difficult. Cyberbullying can result in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, psychological problems, major physical and mental health problems, and even suicide. The purpose of this article is to investigate the notions of cyber bullying harassment, the risks associated with such crimes, and the legal and management mechanisms for dealing with such crimes. This research makes use of a doctrinal content analysis as well as secondary data from the law, academic journals, books, and online sources. According to the authors, unequal power relations in the workplace, anonymity, and cross-border connectedness are some of the rationales for cyberbullying, which can be expressed in a variety of ways with negative consequences for employers and employees alike. The inadequacy of the present traditional and computer-specific legislation in dealing with such crime necessitates the management of such crime.

Can Social Concern Theory Explain Quarantine-Related Misbehavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic? An Inquiry in the Urban Context of Iran

“…Recent research has begun to assess the nature and extent of COVID-19, as well as its causes and effects (e.g., Harris, 2020;Meers et al, 2021;Rosli et al, 2021). Building on this scholarship, the present study explored the utility of social concern theory in explaining why some people engage in COVID-19 misbehavior during a period of lockdown.…”

“…Restrictions (e.g., quarantine) have been widely implemented around the world to reduce the frequency of transmission, but not all have adhered to policy mandates. Recent research has begun to assess the nature and extent of COVID-19, as well as its causes and effects (e.g., Harris, 2020; Leal, Kurland, et al, 2021; Leal, Piquero, et al, 2021; Meers et al, 2021; Rosli et al, 2021). Building on this scholarship, the present study explored the utility of social concern theory in explaining why some people engage in COVID-19 misbehavior during a period of lockdown.…”

“…Therefore, criminologists anticipated that lockdowns might differentially affect crime types, with certain crimes decreasing (e.g., theft and property crime) and others increasing (e.g., cybercrime; Hardyns et al, 2022). These research questions, and others, have been subjected to empirical testing through a variety of recent studies (e.g., Harris, 2020; Leal, Kurland, et al, 2021; Leal, Piquero, et al, 2021; Meers et al, 2021; Rosli et al, 2021).…”

An explorative qualitative study of cyberbullying and cyberstalking in a higher education community

“…This definition inconsistency has led to a scarcity of policies, especially during and post-pandemic. Furthermore, as noted by Oksanen et al (2020Oksanen et al ( , 2021, CB overlaps with harassment, but it has typically been investigated in the context of school and, only more recently, in the workplace (Kowalski et al 2018;Oksanen et al 2020;Wan Rosli et al 2021;Zych et al 2015). HE environments include both contexts but remain under-researched (Oksanen et al 2021).…”

An empirical study on cyber ostracism and students' discontinuous usage intention of social networking sites during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mediated and moderated model

“…For adolescents, feeling deprived, lonely, and socially isolated may affect their tendency to be targeted by or perpetrate cyberbullying ( Brewer & Kerslake, 2015 ). Cyberbullying during the COVID-19 pandemic has caused considerable health problems (i.e., physical and psychological), leading to negative consequences for people’s well-being ( Rosli et al, 2021 ). The study demonstrates that cyberbullying significantly harms the mental well-being of cyber users ( Dreßing et al, 2014 ), and thus higher distress is recorded among the individuals…”