Amanda Michelle Todd (died October 10, 2012) was a 15-year-old Canadian teenager who committed suicide attributed to cyber-bullying through the social networking website Facebook.
On 7 September 2012, Todd posted a video on YouTube in which she used a series of flash cards to tell of her experience of being bullied.Shortly before 6:00 pm on October 10, 2012, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were called to her home in Port Coquitlam, to investigate what they refer to as a "sudden death".They have since launched a full investigation into Todd's death.Police are conducting interviews, reviewing content at social media sites, and are actively monitoring pages.
Christy Clark, the Premier of British Columbia, made an online statement of condolence suggesting a national discussion be made discussing criminalizing cyber-bullying.Todd was a 10th-grade student at CABE Secondary in Coquitlam.
The internet hacking and activist group Anonymous has named a man the group says was the girl's primary tormentor. Anonymous published the name and address of a Vancouver-area man that the group claims was bullying and preying on Todd via the internet.
The activist group, which often uses a caricature Guy Fawkes mask as its logo, claims the 32-year-old man has also made postings to child pornography sites.
The man himself has now been threatened online by others vowing to carry out vigilante justice.
Todd's family has pleaded with people to report anyone desecrating online tribute pages to Amanda and also to come forward with information about those who bullied her online.
The kind of sexual exploitation described by Todd is part of a seedy cyber-underworld that targets young girls and it is not bullying, but a vicious crime that should be pursued even after her death.
