The Impact of Cyberstalking on U.S. Media Law

With the development of the internet, cyberstalking has become of great societal concern, as users are allowed access to information that would be more difficult to obtain in the physical world. As the cyber world develops, the law must account for the impact that certain features of technology can have on its citizens.  It must include newly developed communication applications, such as hosted applications like Facebook and Myspace, and developments to previous technology, such as laptop computers and VoIP (Spitzberg & Hoobler, 2002).  While careful not to infringe on the rights of the nation’s population, the law must consider the protection of its citizens from those that intend to harm and violate with the use of internet and technology. One of the more intimidating concepts of internet intrusion and violation is that of cyberstalking. Studies have shown that one million women and 400,000 men have been victims of stalking and that one in twenty women will be stalked during a part of their life (Brody, 1998).  Though most stalking is committed by ‘regular’ citizens toward former romantic partners, it is still a widespread fear that psychopaths and fanatical killers are stalking innocent, unknowing victims (Spitzberg & Hoobler, 2002). 

1. Definition of Stalking as it pertains to Digital Media
2. Cyberstalking in the United States
   1. Federal
      1. Violence Against Women Act
      2. 47 USC Sec. 223
      3. 18 USC Sec. 2261A
   2. State
      1. Texas
         1. Tx. Penal Code § 42.07
      1. California
         1. Bill Number: SB 1796
      2. Alaska
         1. House Bill No 12
   3. Additional resources to investigate state laws regarding cyberstalking 
3. Pertinent Cases
   1. Amy Boyer and Liam Youens
      1. Case History
      2. Amy Lynn Boyer v. Docusearch, Inc.
   2. Tina Knight and Eric Bowker
      1. Case History
      2. United States of America v. Eric Bowker
   3. Barbara Robinson and Daniel Peck
      1. Case History
      2. State of Wisconsin v. Daniel J. Peck
4. Challenges to existing law
5. References