2:52 PM Fri, Aug 27, 2010 |
By W. Zachary Malinowski

Steve Archambault, a Democratic candidate for attorney general, announced on Friday that he is seeking stiffer penalties and more stringent reporting requirements to crackdown on cyberbullying, something he called a "widespread and growing problem that victimizes too many of our kids."

Archambault noted that, according to experts, this form of bullying is more prevalent and widespread than in-school bullying because it does not require face-to-face contact. Cyberbullying is the use of e-mail, social networking sites and text messaging to intimidate, harass and spread harmful information about another child or teenager.

Citing national data, Archambault said that girls are more likely than boys to engage and be victims of cyberbullying.

Archambault noted that he looked forward to the recommendations of a state Senate Commission that will be studying the issue of cyberthreats, cyberbullying and sexting, sending explicit photos through the Internet. He urged the the commission to take a close look an anti-bullying laws that have been adopted in Massachusetts and Louisiana.