The Task Force comprises members from the National Child Protection Authority, the Attorney General`s Department, the Police Department, the Justice Ministry and Non-Governmental Organizations.

The Task Force will immediately start taking action to investigate and prosecute to the full extent of the law those using the internet or mobile devices for purposes of bullying, harassing, stalking, or extortion of children and young people.

Natasha Balendra, Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority said the Task Force will also begin formulating recommendations for new legislation aimed specifically at criminalizing cyber bullying and cyber harassing and the like and protecting the victims of such crimes.

She said the Authority’s cyber watch unit has been very active in the recent past and receives and investigates many complaints relating to the use of the internet and has been actively monitoring several sites for potentially abusive behaviour.

She added that the Authority is concurrently working with the Ministries of Education and Justice, the Police and several private sector organizations to develop a module for use in schools on the safe use of the internet with a special focus on cyber bullying and other cybercrimes.