Minister of Health and Wellness, Christopher Tufton, in a tweet on Wednesday(November 11) said he no longer felt safe on social media platforms.
Tufton shared with his Twitter audience that he had recently learned that his name and image are being used as part of a scam to solicit funds from persons online.
The Minister encouraged those who came into contact with any such posts to report them to the police.
Tufton noted that the posts are considered a violation under the law, further describing them as a “cowardly act”.
According to the minister, he has felt less secure on social media platforms over the past months, noting that he has been the victim of both cyber attacks and cyber bullying.
Social Media has become an unsafe space.
⁰⁰In the last few months I have witnessed and been the victim of both Cyberattacks and Cyberbullying.Today, I was notified of another new low – that a person was using my image and name to solicit funds from people online.
— Dr. Chris Tufton (@christufton) November 11, 2020
THIS BEHAVIOUR HAS GOT TO STOP.
To anyone who has received a message from someone impersonating me, please report it ASAP.
Cyber bullying and impersonation is not only an offense but it is a cowardly act.
LET US PUT AN END TO THIS BEHAVIOUR.
— Dr. Chris Tufton (@christufton) November 11, 2020
While cyber attacks, including scam e-mail aren’t new, there has been uptick in such crimes since the start of the pandemic in March.
What is cyber bullying?
Cyber bullying is bullying with the use of a device.
Cyber bullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or on social media platforms where people can view and share content.
Sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone can be considered cyber bullying.
Under current local legislation, there is no specific cyber-bullying law nor does any legislation define the phenomenon.
However, under the Cyber Crime Act of 2015 there is the offence of ‘malicious communication’ through the use of technology, that could potentially address this phenomenon.
