Realizing the Hidden Fear

Overview
Background of Cyberstalking
Explanation of a Cyberstalker
Ex. Facebook
Federal Legislation
Prevention
Ethical Analysis

Background of
Cyberstalking
Cyberstalking - is the use of the Internet or other

electronic means to stalk someone.

Use this term interchangeably with online harassment

or online abuse

Paul Bocij states that CyberAngels has one of the

most useful definitions:

When identifying cyberstalking in the field,

particularly when considering whether to report it to any

kind of legal authority, the following features or
combinations of features can be considered to
characterize a true stalking situation: Malice,
Premeditation, Repetition, Distress, Obsession,
Vendetta, No Legitimate Purpose, Personally Directed,
Disregarded Warnings to Stop, Harassment, and Threats

Background Continued
Victims of cyberstalking might object

to the definition from CyberAngels.

Disregarded Warnings to Stop
You cannot claim that you are being a victim of

cyberstalking if you have never said Leave me

alone to the stalker. One standard defense
used by stalkers in court is to claim that you
were encouraging their attentions and that you
never said NO.

Background Continued
The majority of cyberstalkers are

men and the majority of their

victims are women but..
Jane A. Hitchcock, president of WHOA
says, The most surprising thing we've seen
is the rise in female cyberstalkers - this
increased from 27% in 2000 to 35% in
2002 to 38% in 2003.

Background Continued
According to the

Working to Halt Online

Abuse (WHOA) from
2000 to 2006, out of the
total cases, 2036, of
cyberstalking.

Explanation of a
Cyberstalker
P.E. Mullen describes six categories

of cyberstalkers.
The four most important types are:
Rejected Stalker
Resentful Stalker
Predatory Stalker
Intimacy Stalker

Rejected Stalker
Most common, persistent, and

intrusive
Obsessed with someone who is a

former romantic partner or friend,

and who has ended their
relationship, or indicates that he or
she intends to end the relationship.

Resentful Stalker
Looking for revenge against

someone who has upset them--it

could be someone known to the
stalker or a complete stranger.
Their behaviors are meant to frighten

and distress the victim

Predatory Stalker
Least common
Are a classic sexual predator whose

plan is to physically or sexually

attack the victim.
Their motivated purely by the desire

for sexual gratification and power

over their victim

Intimacy Stalker
They seeks to establish an intimate,

loving relationship with their victim.

The victim and himself were meant to

be together.

These types of people think that the

victim owes them love and affection

because of all the time and effort it
took for the stalker to stalk them.

Example
Is Facebook really private?
News Feed and Mini-Feed
Tracks activities of a users friends
Highlights recent social activity

Invasion of privacy has made critics

bring up the idea that Facebook

facilitated online stalking.

Federal Legislation
In 1990, California became the first state

to enact a specific stalking law. [1]

An Important Cyberstalking Federal Law:
18 U.S.C. 875(c). Under 18 U.S.C. 875(c), it

is a federal crime to transmit any

communication in interstate or foreign
commerce containing a threat to injure the
person of another.

Federal Legislation
Cont.
Harry Valetk
Consider that Arizonas stalking statute
only prohibits credible threats of violence
against the victim, whereas California and
South Carolina prohibits threats against
the victims immediate family. In Maine, a
stalkers course of conduct can constitute
an implied threat. But what legal standard
applies to a cyberstalker from Maine,
terrorizing an Arizona resident, using a
California ISP?

Prevention
Rule of Thumb:
NEVER GIVE ANY PERSONAL

INFORMATION ACROSS THE INTERNET!

The more active a person is on the

Internet, the more information becomes

available to others to view about you.

Prevention Cont.
Dont share personal information online.
Dont fill out profiles or include personal

information on websites.
Dont use a gender specific or provocative
screen name or e-mail address.
Dont flirt or start an argument online
unless you are prepared for the
consequences.
Dont share your password with anyone.
When cyberdating, set up a special e-mail
address.
Use a good anti-virus program and update
daily.

Ethical Analysis
Kantianism decipher what is right or

wrong

First Categorical Imperative ex. Facebook

General Rule - I may use the new features of

Facebook to stalk other people.

Universalize Rule Everyone uses Facebooks
new features to stalk other people.
All society has done is create a website that

helps people stalk others with the intention

of causing them harm
Thus, unethical.

Ethical Analysis Cont.

Act Utilitarianism based on the Principle

of Utility.

Is it ethical for parents to be able to stalk

their children through the use of

electronic means?
Sounds ridiculous right?

Cell Phones
Motor Vehicles
GPS

Ethical Analysis Cont..

Internet software -

track their teenager's

Internet use remotely
and can copy instant
messages and online
chats into e-mails that
will be sent to parents.
Parents have the
ability for the first time
to keep constant tabs
on their rebellious
teens or their loyal
teens.
Thus, ethical.