Cyberstalking
Cyberstalking
Cyberstalking is the use of digital technologies to harass, threaten, or intimidate someone. It often co-occurs with in-person stalking or other forms of interpersonal violence like domestic or dating violence.
Prevalance
80%
of stalking victims report being stalked with technology.
41%
undergraduate students have experienced tech-facilitated stalking.
Majority
of tech-facilitated stalking victims are pursued by people they know, most commonly by a well-known or casual acquaintance.
How it happens
Cyberstalking involves a pattern of behaviors that use technology to track, intimidate, or distress another person. This might look like:
- Sending repeated, unwanted messages or emails
- Monitoring someone’s online activity or tracking their location
- “Hacking” into accounts by guessing passwords, security questions, or manipulating account recovery flows
- Posting false or malicious information about the person online
- And more
Cyberstalking is often persistent and invasive, and it can cause emotional distress or fear.
Laws
Almost all states and territories have laws against cyberstalking, although the criteria can vary by state. Even if a state does not have an explicit provision against cyberstalking, tech-facilitated behaviors may be implicitly included in their state laws. See our map of state laws for more detailed information.
What To Do
If you or someone you know is a target of cyberstalking, you are not alone. Explore curated resources related to cyberstalking from our resource library below. You can also visit the Stalking Prevention and Awareness Resource Center, one of NRCC’s primary partners, for more information.
Resources
Need immediate help with cyberstalking? Explore some curated resources for this issue.
A sample chart for documenting cyberstalking incidents.
Learn about stalkerware from a professional working group on the topic.
A guide to detecting and disabling potential Bluetooth trackers.
A checklist for beginning to safety plan for cyberstalking.