PROBLEM

A study recently published in the UK reveals, that teenagers who suffer bullying are three times more likely to commit suicide. Unsurprisingly, this alarming subject has been constantly discussed around the world for some time. However, the number of victims related to bullying have not dropped. Despite the awareness that makes room for discussions about it – the problem is still there.

Nowadays we are more connected. It's not so much of a surprise, that bullying

has been occurring on social media. On most channels, it is possible to report

unbecoming behaviors. But there's one exception: the most widely used messaging

platform in the world, WhatsApp. Due to its encryption, WhatsApp is the only

cyber-space where a bully can engage in offensive acts freely, since the app

can do nothing to block or control its messages.

Cyberbullying is already considered one of the leading causes of depression,

suicidal tendencies and life-long trauma among young people. In Portugal, the

law considers bullying and cyberbullying a crime punishable by up to five years

imprisonment when the offender is over 16 years old. However, even under this

law, victims are discredited or afraid to report, and attackers remain

unpunished and free to use their smartphones as a weapon to spread hatred.

The terms and conditions section in mobile phone company contracts contains specific clauses designed to provide protection against violence. Customers who have committed any kind of digital violence, or harmed others, could face the immediate cancellation of their cell phone number.

SOLUTION

We created a platform: termsagainstbullying.com.  Using a tool that recognizes mobile operators, termsagainstbullying.comtermsagainstbullying.com receives complaints and sends them to the regulatory body of each European country. It will be responsible for ensuring

that mobile providers comply with contractual clauses, that obliges them to cancel the contracts of those who have committed digital violence.

After filling in and submitting the online form, the platform identifies the offender's operator, and the system immediately sends each reported case to the Media and Communication Authority of the given country. The Authority investigates the case, and if cyberbullying is proven, they report the violation of the contract to the mobile provider. After that the mobile provider has to shut down the reported user’s account.

Termsagainstbullying.com also draws attention to the different types of bullying, thus educating about the various types of digital violence, that should be reported.