Some stalkers may use technology to find/track your location and to monitor what you do online (or offline).Įven if your state does not have a criminal law specifically against “cyberstalking,” in most states, the act of repeatedly contacting or harassing a person through the Internet or other technology is still considered a crime under the state’s stalking or harassment laws. The person may also post messages about you, share your personal information or pictures of you online to harass or scare you. A stalker may contact you by email, social media sites, a messaging app, or through other online spaces/websites. You can find state law definitions for stalking on our Crimes page - just enter your state in the drop-down menu and click “Enter.”Ĭyberstalking is a term that refers to the misuse of the Internet or other technology to stalk and harass someone. However, if these acts are done over and over and make you afraid, it may be considered stalking. It’s possible that some of the stalker’s actions (such as showing up at your work, leaving a package for you on your doorstep, or calling you multiple times) may not be illegal on their own. 1 Sometimes, stalking involves repeated acts that might cause you to be afraid for yourself or for your family or household members. The crime of stalking is defined differently by individual states across the country and there is also a federal stalking law, which makes it illegal to travel between states with the intent to commit stalking. If you believe that you are being stalked or cyberstalked, learn how to increase your safety on our Safety Tips for Stalking Victims page. It can be carried out in a number of ways, many of which involve technology and online spaces. Stalking involves a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that causes fear. How can I document incidents of stalking and cyberstalking? More often than not, stalking/cyberstalking is committed by a current or former intimate partner and the stalking/cyberstalking may begin or get worse when you end the relationship.Ĭan I get a restraining order based on stalking? While stalking/cyberstalking can be committed by someone you don’t know, it is most often a crime perpetrated by someone with whom you are familiar.
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