Abuse Using Technology

Cyberstalking means misusing the internet or other technology to stalk and harass someone.  A stalker may contact you by:

• email;
• social media sites;
• a messaging app; or
• through other online spaces/websites. 

The person may do any of the following:

• post messages about you;
• spread rumors about you;
• harass your friends or family;
• recruit other people to harass you;
• impersonate you;
• share your personal information or pictures of you online to harass or scare you;
• use technology to find/track your location and to monitor what you do online or offline; and
• create fake images or recordings of you (“deepfakes”).

A stalker or harasser may also target your friends or family. This is a risk factor for the stalking getting worse. You can learn more about risk factors at the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, & Resource Center (SPARC) website.

Even if your state does not have a criminal law specifically against “cyberstalking,” that doesn’t mean it isn’t a crime. In most states, 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.  It’s important to know that even if you were originally okay with the person contacting you, it could still be illegal if you make it known that the contact is now unwanted. To read your state’s specific laws, you can go to our Crimes page and enter your state in the drop-down menu.