Cyberstalking Nature and Response Recommendations

Abstract

Cyberstalking is a special form of stalking and involves the use of information and communication technologies as the means and the medium of harassment or intimidation. Cyberstalking can lead to significant and long lasting psychological, economic or even physical effects, and can be a platform for the commission of violent crimes. In the last decade, cyberstalking has received significant attention from researchers, lawmakers, policy officials, and law enforcement agencies. Yet, although there is a significant body of literature on the topic, which recognizes cyberstalking as a very serious and growing problem and discusses various aspects of it, we believe that the phenomenon is not sufficiently examined, particularly considering the rapidly evolving technologies, which give perpetrators unprecedented capabilities. In this paper, in an interdisciplinary approach, we review relevant research and look into the criminalization of cyberstalking. Our paper extends existing knowledge of the phenomenon by analyzing a number of recent real cases, obtained mainly through an online legal research service, to reveal the nature of cyberstalking. We outline the most important aspects and issues raised by this phenomenon and make a number of recommendations as possible solutions to mitigating the risk, from education and awareness to adequate technology and legal response. Keywords: Cyberstalking, Cyberharassing, Information and Communication Technologies, Malware, False personation. Threat, Violence, Sexual purpose, Electronic surveillance