DPP wants cyber defamation criminalised

Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is urging Parliament to criminalise cyber defamation.

Using the example of the altering of images with the computer, the DPP's office as well as the police said there are currently no laws under which person can be criminally charged for doing so.

The authorities told today's sitting of a joint-select committee of Parliament considering a review to the Cyber Crimes Act, that cyber defamation covers instances where a person, using a computer, engages in conduct with the intention to harm the reputation of a particular persons or reasonably knowing that the conduct could cause harm.

Locksley Ricketts, counsel from the DPP's office noted that at present, the only thing that can be done is for the aggrieved person to seek civil remedy in the courts.

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daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com