Amanda Todd

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Amanda Michelle Todd (* 27. November 1996 , † 10. October 2012 in Port Coquitlam , British Columbia ) was a Canadian student who due Sextortion by suicide died. As a 12-year-old she had a chat via webcam exposing himself to a stranger her upper body and was blackmailed by this man later. The perpetrator published and spread her picture, which is why she was bullied at school. This was followed by a change of school, self-harm and a failed suicide attempt. At the age of 15 she died by her own hand. Before her death, she published a nine-minute video in which she covered her story in silence with handwritten notes.

Background and suicide

On September 7, 2012, Amanda Todd published a video in which she shared her story using handwritten notes. Accordingly, as a seventh grader, she used a video chat to meet new people. A strange chat partner had persuaded her to bare her upper body. Her counterpart saved a video and later began to blackmail her with it: He demanded further action from Todd and threatened to publish the video. Police later informed Todd that the photo was circulating online. Because of the social problems that came with it, Todd's family moved to another town.

About a year later, a profile was created on Facebook in which the photo could be seen. At the same time, classmates from their new school were specifically made aware of this profile. In the further course, Todd changed schools a second time. There she was accused, insulted and depressed by several girls of an affair with the boyfriend of one of the girls. In this regard, Todd attempted suicide; through timely medical measures she survived.

When Todd was released from the hospital, the family relocated to a new town, but social bullying continued. Todd's mental state continued to deteriorate despite the use of antidepressants , and she became addicted to self-harm . She committed suicide on October 10, 2012 .

Police investigation

The Canadian organization cybertip.ca , which receives information on the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography , claims to have been made aware of the picture circulating on the Internet in November 2011. This information has been given to law enforcement agencies.

Following Todd's suicide, police investigations began by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and British Columbia Coroners Service . 20 investigators were scheduled for this. In particular, the investigators should focus on the content of social networks in order to determine the author of the publication of the defamatory photo. Police set up an email address to which the public could send information about the photo and the circumstances of its publication. Over 400 reports were received within 24 hours.

In April 2014, a 35-year-old man was arrested as an alleged perpetrator in the Netherlands . He is accused of having committed similar acts with dozens of other girls. The Canadian government has requested his extradition. In June 2016, an Amsterdam court ruled that the Dutchman would be extradited to Canada. Before that, however, the latter has to answer to court himself for cyberbullying in the Netherlands. In March 2017 he was sentenced to a maximum sentence of almost 11 years by a Dutch court.

Reactions

Media reactions

Todd's suicide quickly gained widespread media coverage, particularly through the spread of her video: within a week of its release, it was viewed around 1.6 million times. On October 19, 2012, vigil ceremonies were held in memory of Amanda Todd, and there were minutes of silence in many places, especially in schools. In various speeches personalities such as Magic Johnson , Demi Lovato and the Prime Minister of British Columbia, Christy Clark , discussed the events.

Response from Anonymous

The hacker group Anonymous claimed to have located the blackmailer shortly after Todd's suicide and released the name, address and photo of a 31-year-old man from British Columbia. Aided by the strong media presence of the incident, there were then various insults and threats, including death threats, against this man by online users. In an interview with CBC News , the man said he chatted with Todd but denied the further allegations. The Canadian police warned against too quick conclusions. A few days later it emerged that the Anonymous accused was not the blackmailer and that the published address had nothing to do with the case either.

"Amanda Todd Trust"

Amanda's mother founded the Amanda Todd Trust in November 2012 to help young people with mental health problems.

Musical appreciation

On October 24, 2012, the Canadian singer-songwriter Elise Estrada released the single Wonder Woman , which is dedicated to Amanda Todd, on the XOXO Entertainment label . All proceeds from iTunes sales go to The Amanda Todd Legacy Fund , which uses it to support anti-bullying campaigns and suicide prevention programs.

Two versions of a music video were also shot. One version also uses the stylistic device of handwritten notes on which the lyrics can be seen. The other version contains not only recordings of the interpreter, but also short video clips and photos of Amanda Todd as well as photos of people from all over the world holding notes with the words "Just Like Wonder Woman" in the direction of the camera.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Sabine Lorenz: Anonymous wants to avenge Amanda Todd. Frankfurter Rundschau , October 19, 2012, accessed on January 4, 2013 .
  2. ↑ Video on YouTube
  3. ↑ Joyanne Pursaga: Group got tip about Amanda Todd before teen's suicide. Toronto Sun , October 16, 2012, accessed January 4, 2013 .
  4. ↑ Tormenters target Amanda Todd's online memorials amid police probe. CTV News, October 13, 2012, accessed January 4, 2013 .
  5. ↑ Amanda Todd's death draws over 400 tips from around the globe for RCMP investigators. The Vancouver Sun , October 14, 2012, archived from the original on January 25, 2013 ; accessed on January 4, 2013 .
  6. ↑ Michelle Dean: Dutch Man Charged With Cyberbullying Amanda Todd. Gawker, April 18, 2014, accessed June 20, 2016 .
  7. ↑ Helmut Hetzel: Police catch suspected cyber bully after Amanda Todd's death. The West , April 22, 2014, accessed June 20, 2016 .
  8. ↑ dpa / Volker Briegleb: Amanda Todd: Dutchman is extradited for cyber bullying. heise online , June 28, 2016, accessed on June 28, 2016 (German).
  9. ↑ Amanda Todd extortionist sentenced to 11 years in prison in the Netherlands. Spiegel Online , accessed March 16, 2017 .
  10. ↑ We Day: In wake of Amanda Todd tragedy, anti-bullying message defines 20,000-strong event. Global BC, October 18, 2012, accessed January 4, 2013 .
  11. ↑ Cyberbullying cannot be fought on the Internet alone. Die Zeit , October 25, 2012, accessed on January 4, 2013 .
  12. ↑ RCMP debunk rumors about Amanda Todd case. cnews, October 16, 2012, accessed January 4, 2013 .
  13. ^ ITunes release date "Wonder Woman". iTunes , October 24, 2012; accessed January 19, 2013 .
  14. ↑ iTunes proceeds go to The Amanda Todd Legacy Fund. The SONiC Nation, October 24, 2012, accessed January 19, 2013 .
  15. ^ Youtube video "Elise Estrada - Wonder Woman (Dedicated to Amanda Todd) Cue Card Version". YouTube , October 12, 2013, accessed November 2, 2013 .
  16. ↑ Youtube video "Wonder Woman" (Official Music Video) ELISE ESTRADA (re-upload). Youtube , January 8, 2013, accessed January 19, 2013 .
personal data
SURNAME Todd, Amanda
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Todd, Amanda Michelle
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Canadian schoolgirl
DATE OF BIRTH November 27, 1996
DATE OF DEATH October 10, 2012
Place of death Port Coquitlam , British Columbia