El cyber-bullying y la violencia de género

Abstract

In this paper, we try to analyze the response of the various existing provisions in the Criminal Code against gender violence produced by cyberbullying. We do it by reviewing the literature and analyzing the Criminal Code where we notice a lack of proportionality in relation to the facts involved in the crime, id est, degrading treatment, libel, slander, disclosure of secrets, threats and inducement to suicide in crimes of violence of gender. This happens because there is no specific criminal provision to regulate and criminalize illicit actions derived from this type of attacks on the fundamental rights of the victim on the Internet. The speed of communication, file sharing, messaging and viral effect, for example, linked to the nature of the Internet, have as a result that information can be shared by all Internet users. This introduces an aggravating factor in the crime committed which is not punishable under the current Criminal Code. Therefore, we try to prove that introducing a crime specifically focused on those types of illegal behavior that take place in the Internet would be advisable, either through an aggravating circumstance in the penal provision itself, or through a new penal provision as has been done in the case of the crimes “ex novo” sexting and stalking. The structure of this paper comprises three sections: In the first section we approach the problem. In the second section, we reflect on the concept and traits of cyberbullying. In the third section, we go through the legal and judicial response given by the Criminal Code to this type of criminal offenses.