Illinois bill would criminalize filming fights to put online

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The video posted on Facebook showed a 12-year-old on the ground while another boy tried to stomp him, with classmates standing by, circling the two and recording the fight on their phones.

Neither boy was seriously hurt, but Republican Rep. Terri Bryant of Murphysboro in Illinois was so disturbed she’s proposed a bill making it a crime to record fights to share online.

“Instead of getting help, they opened their cellphones,” said Bryant.

Bryant’s proposal has prompted concerns about infringing on free speech rights and criminalizing young people. Similar concerns have hindered lawmakers around the country who have tried in recent years to crack down on cyberbullies who take to social media to harass classmates. In addition, intent can be difficult to prosecute.

“I wish someone would have stepped in,” said Tiffany Thomas, the mother of the boy who was on the ground near the middle school during the fight last month.

Bryant’s bill would make it a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct to post fight videos online with intent to condone or promote the violence.

All 50 states have anti-bullying laws, but only half of those laws address cyberbullying, according to the Cyberbullying Research Center.

“I would hate for children or teenagers to then have a misdemeanor on their record, and be introduced to the justice system well before they need to be,” said Sameer Hinduja, co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center.

Bryant said she’s not trying to infringe on anyone’s freedom of speech, but worries recording fights devalues people.

Before social media, Bryant said, “We would have never thought of getting a video camera instead of getting help.”