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What happens when you make cyberbullying a crime?

While crimes like rape and assault are specific, cyberbullying can be hard to define.

A court case begins today for two 18-year-old Canadian boys, who were allegedly involved in the 2011 rape of a 17-year-old girl from Nova Scotia who later committed suicide. Her death came after photos of her alleged rape were posted online by her attackers and shared widely.

The incident has pushed the government in Nova Scotia to enact a new and far-reaching law targeting cyberbullies. But while crimes like rape and assault are specific, cyberbullying can be hard to define.

Shaheen Shareef, an associate professor in the education department at McGill University, joins Marketplace Tech host Ben Johnson to discuss.

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