States have enacted “cyberstalking” or “cyberharassment” laws or have laws that explicitly include electronic forms of communication within more traditional stalking or harassment laws. In addition, recent concerns about protecting minors from online bullying or harassment have led states to enact “cyberbullying” laws. This chart identifies state laws that include specific references to electronic communication. However, other state laws may still apply to those who harass, threaten or bully others online, although specific language may make the laws easier to enforce. This chart classifies the various state laws addressing these three different types of online behaviors, as described below.
Cyberstalking. Cyberstalking is the use of the Internet, email or other electronic communications to stalk, and generally refers to a pattern of threatening or malicious behaviors. Cyberstalking may be considered the most dangerous of the three types of Internet harassment, based on a posing credible threat of harm. Sanctions range from misdemeanors to felonies.
Cyberharassment. Cyberharassment differs from cyberstalking in that it may generally be defined as not involving a credible threat. Cyberharassment usually pertains to threatening or harassing email messages, instant messages, or to blog entries or websites dedicated solely to tormenting an individual. Some states approach cyberharrassment by including language addressing electronic communications in general harassment statutes, while others have created stand-alone cyberharassment statutes.
Also, PLEASE take a look at this. It’s constantly being updates and a new 2014 version will be released soon!
http://www.cyberbullying.us/Bullying_and_Cyberbullying_Laws.pdf
State/Territory | Cyberstalking | Cyberharassment |
Alabama | Ala. Code § 13A-11-8 | |
Alaska | Alaska Stat. §§ 11.41.260, 11.41.270 | |
Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-2923 | Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 13-2916, 13-2921 |
Arkansas | Ark. Code § 5-41-108 | Ark. Code § 5-41-108 |
California | Cal. Civil Code § 1708.7, Cal Penal Code § 646.9 | Cal. Penal Code §§ 422, 653.2, 653m |
Colorado | Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 18-602, 18-9-111 | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-9-111 |
Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-181d (2012 Public Act 114), 53a-183 | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-182b, 53a-183 |
Delaware | Del. Code tit. 11 § 1311 | |
Florida | Fla. Stat. § 784.048 | Fla. Stat. § 784.048 |
Georgia | Georgia Code § 16-5-90 | |
Hawaii | Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 711-1106 | |
Idaho | Idaho Stat. §§ 18-7905, 18-7906 | |
Illinois | 720 ILCS §§ 5/12-7.3, 5/12-7.5, 740 ILCS21/10 | 720 ILCS §§ 135/1-2, 135/1-3, 135/2 |
Indiana | Ind. Code § 35-45-2-2 | |
Iowa | Iowa Code § 708.7 | |
Kansas | Kan. Stat. § 21-3438 | |
Kentucky | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 508.130 to .150 | |
Louisiana | La. Rev. Stat. §§ 14:40.2, 14:40.3 | |
Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit 17A § 210A (see 2007 Me. Laws, Ch. 685, sec. 3) | |
Maryland | Md. Code tit. 3 § 3-805 (2013 H.B. 396, Chapter 369) | |
Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265 § 43 | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265 § 43A |
Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 750.411h, 750.411i | Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.411s |
Minnesota | Minn. Stat. § 609.749 | Minn. Stat. § 609.795 |
Mississippi | Miss. Code §§ 97-45-15, 97-45-17, 97-3-107 | Miss. Code § 97-29-45 |
Missouri | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 565.225 | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 565.090 |
Montana | Mont. Code Ann. § 45-5-220 | Mont. Code Ann. § 45-8-213 |
Nebraska* | Neb. Rev. Stat.§ 28-311.02 | Neb. Rev. Stat.§ 28-311.02 |
Nevada | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 200.575 | |
New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. § 644:4 | |
New Jersey | N.J. Stat. § 2C:12-10, 2C:12-10.1 | |
New Mexico* | N.M. Stat. § 30-3A-3 | |
New York | New York Penal Law § 240.30 | |
North Carolina | N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-196.3 | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-196(b) |
North Dakota | N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-17-07 | |
Ohio | Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.211 | Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2917.21(A),2913.01(Y) |
Oklahoma | Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1173 | Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1172 |
Oregon | Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 163.730 to 163.732 | Or. Rev. Stat. § 166.065 |
Pennsylvania | Pa. Cons. Stat. tit. § 18 2709.1 | Pa. Cons. Stat. tit. 18 § 2709(a), 2709(f) |
Rhode Island | R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 8-8.1-1, 11-52-4.2, | R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-52-4.2 |
South Carolina | S.C. Code §§ 16-3-1700(C), 16-3-1700(F) | S.C. Code §§ 16-3-1700(B), 16-3-1700(C), 16-17-430 |
South Dakota | S.D. Cod. Laws § 22-19A-1 | S.D. Cod. Laws § 49-31-31 |
Tennessee | Tenn. Code § 39-17-315 | Tenn. Code § 39-17-308 |
Texas | Tx. Penal Code § 33.07 | |
Utah | Utah Code § 76-5-106.5 | Utah Code § 76-9-201 |
Vermont | Vt. Stat. tit. 13 §§ 1061, 1062, 1063 | Vt. Stat. tit. 13 § 1027 |
Virginia | Va. Code § 18.2-60 | Va. Code § 18.2-152.7:1 |
Washington | Wash. Rev. Code §§9A.46.110, 9.61.260 | Wash. Rev. Code §§ 9A.46.020,10.14.020 |
West Virginia | W. Va. Code § 61-3C-14a | |
Wisconsin | Wis. Stat. § 947.0125 | |
Wyoming | Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-506 | |
TERRITORIES: |
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Guam | X.G.C.A. tit. 9 §§ 19.69, 19.70 | X.G.C.A. tit. 9 §§ 19.69, 19.70 |
* Statute does not specify “electronic” or “Internet,” but refers to “telephoning, contacting, or otherwise communicating…” (Nebraska) or “by any action, method, device or means…” (New Mexico).
Federal Law
Federal laws that deal with stalking and harassment:
Unauthorized Information: The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act creates civil and criminal liability for a person who obtains any information from any internet-connected computer without authorization. An additional civil and criminal remedy exists for those who access a computer with the intent to defraud. This statute could be useful in situations where a victim has been secretly recorded through his/her own computer, or where the perpetrator gained access to sexual photos or videos through unauthorized access to the victim’s computer. (8 U.S.C. 1030)
Copyright Infringement: Victims of nonconsensual online publication of intimate photographs or videos (revenge porn) may bring a civil suit for copyright infringement if the victim is the person who originally took the picture, and is thus the copyright owner. (17 U.S.C. 50)
Eavesdropping: If non-consensually published material was originally obtained by the perpetrator’s intercepting an electronic communication, he may be criminally and civilly liable. (18 U.S.C. 2511)
Interstate Threats and Extortion: A person who publishes or threatens to publish private photos or videos of another with the intention of forcing the victim to do something he/she would not have done otherwise may be charged with extortion, if the perpetrator communicated with the victim via interstate commerce channels (phones, computers, internet, etc.) (18 U.S.C. 875)
Cyberstalking Resources:
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