Controversial new cyberbullying law in Illinois

As of January 1, 2015, Illinois law HB4207 went into effect. Illinois Government News Network describes it in these words:

House Bill 4207, sponsored by State Representative Laura Fine (D-Glenview) and State Senator Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago), prohibits bullying of students through technology outside the classroom or school. The law applies to devices not owned or used by a school, and requires a school’s anti-bullying policy to include an investigation for any act of bullying that causes a disruption to a school’s operations or educational process. This legislation expands on previous legislation signed by Governor Quinn which banned cyberbullying of students within schools. The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2015.

Every coin has two sides. While the objective of the law is to protect children being bullied, there is controversy around the subject of student’s invasion of privacy, free speech and how much power a school should have. The prevailing question is whether it is legal for a school to require a student to turn over the passwords to social media during an investigation of harassment and bullying.

It cannot be argued that cyberbullying that is happening outside of school times has a direct and powerful impact on the victim DURING school hours. Cyberbullying cannot be separated by school hours.

Here are a few links to gain an understanding of the law and the arguments surrounding it.