http://www.wiredsafety.org/cyberstalkin ... crime.html
Cyberstalking is a crime which most people have heard about by now
We read about cases in the newspaper of how young woman are smitten by seemingly very romantic men whom they meet and have a relationship with, exclusively online. Next they excitedly fly to meet their "true love" only to be kidnapped, and in the worse cases, murdered. But does that mean every case is this severe? No! There are far more, everyday cases that are mild in comparison to these, but yet very emotionally painful.
We at WiredSafety receive requests for help from ordinary people, adults and teens, who are harassed by intrusive e-mails, threatening e-mails, real life 'phone calls from someone whom the victim only knew online, for example. The emotional response vary according to the seriousness of the stalker's behavior. Some who write to us are annoyed, in other extreme cases, however, they are scared-to-death!
It matters little if the source of harassment is only "online". The feeling of being having one's e-mail interrupted, or that one is being "watched" somehow, is very disturbing. In addition, there can be much confusion in some situations. One never knows if they are receiving communication from a man, woman, or teen. Every piece of information could be a lie.
Reactions of fear, anxiety, confusion, hopelessness and other feelings can emerge. As disturbing as these feelings may be, and surprising as this might seem, these are normal reactions to the crime of cyberstalking.
THE US COMMUNICATIONS DECENCY ACT OF 1996
While the Communications Act referred only to "interstate or foreign communication (harassment) by means of telephone", the amended version proposed in 1996 (called the Telecommunications Act) changed that text to refer instead to "interstate or foreign communication (harassment) by means of a telecommunications device." This change was brought about directly by the rise of harassment on the rapidly growing Internet, and the subsequent lack of legislation to deal with it.
Title V of this bill was named Obscene Or Harassing Use Of Telecommunications Facilities Under The Communications Act Of 1934. Section. 501 of this new bill named it the Communications Decency Act of 1996, and proposed to amend the Communications Act to make illegal the use of a telecommunications device (i.e. including Internet technology) that:
makes, creates, or solicits, and initiates the transmission of, any comment, request, suggestion, proposal, image, or other communication which is obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, or indecent, with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass another person
-or-
makes a telephone call or utilizes a telecommunications device, whether or not conversation or communication ensues, without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any person at the called number or who receives the communications;
-or-
makes repeated telephone calls or repeatedly initiates communication with a telecommunications device, during which conversation or communication ensues, solely to harass any person at the called number or who receives the communication.
These US Federal anti cyberstalking laws were passed in 1996.
http://crime.about.com/od/online/a/web_harass.htm
Man Sentenced for Internet Harassment
South Carolina Man Sentenced In First Federal Prosecution Of Internet Harassment
From Federal Bureau of Investigations
.Filed In:Crime Prevention> Online Safety
James Robert Murphy, 38, of Columbia, South Carolina, was sentenced to 5 years of probation, 500 hours of community service, and more than $12,000 in restitution today for two counts of Use of a Telecommunications Device (the internet) with Intent to Annoy, Abuse, Threaten or Harass.
Murphy was indicted in April 2004, for sending harassing emails to Seattle resident Joelle Ligon and to other employees of the City of Seattle. He pleaded guilty to two counts in June 2004. In sentencing Murphy, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Zilly told Murphy he "...did not demonstrate the type of remorse he should under the circumstances."
In KY
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/KRS/525-00/080.PDF