Cyberstalking
There are multiple passive crimes and dangers plaguing the world today. One form of passive crime or danger towards unknowing people is stalking. According to Karmen (2016), “stalking is defined as a pattern of criminal conduct inflicted by an offender on an unwilling target who becomes fearful for his or her own safety.” Stalking can be witnessed in various forms, including harassment through active and passive ways such as text messages and phone calls. Over the course of time, and with the development of social media platforms, stalking has become an online problem; thus, the term cyberstalking and various characteristics and legislation accompany it.
Accordingly, cyberstalking is a form of stalking over the internet via various platforms. Further, cyberstalking characteristics include online contact, trolling, sexual harassment, threats, computer monitoring, and identity theft (Begotti & Acquadro Maran, 2019). The first characteristic is online contact, which establishes the online interaction between the victim and perpetrator. The second characteristic is trolling, which is a form of harassment when perpetrators continuously provoke their victims online. The third characteristic is sexual harassment through unwanted sexual advancements. The fourth characteristic is threats, which may be violent and aggressive against victims. Other characteristics include computer monitoring for locations and identity theft by posting and reacting using a victim’s identity.
Consistently, legislation targeting stalking has been put in place to curb this menace. Antistalking legislation has been put in place to curb stalking behaviors and characteristics (Karmen, 2016). The legislation was first introduced in 1990 due to uncertainties concerning dealing with stalking cases. Further, cyberstalking legislation limitations, with victims and perpetrators being in different jurisdictions, are also covered under the antistalking laws. Accordingly, the police can now handle stalking cases by arresting perpetrators and thereby protecting the victims.
References
Begotti, T., & Acquadro Maran, D. (2019). Characteristics of Cyberstalking Behavior, Consequences, and Coping Strategies: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Sample of Italian University Students. Future Internet, 11(5), 120. https://doi.org/10.3390/fi11050120
Karmen, A. (2016). Crime Victims: An Introduction to Victimology (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.
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Question 
Assess the nature of stalking via the internet.
Cyberstalking
Identify and examine the mechanism and characteristics of cyberstalking and legislation targeting stalking.