What is Cyber Stalking?

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[Trigger Warning: This explainer contains information on physical violence, sexual violence, abuse and slurs which some readers may find disturbing.]

If a person persistently monitors or follows a person’s activity on the internet through email, social networks and instant messaging applications such as WhatsApp etc. it is a crime of cyberstalking.

Some of the common forms of cyber stalking are(( Kalandi Charan Lenka v. State of Orissa BLAPL No.7596 of 2016.)):

Persistent contact by someone on different modes of social media, for example, WhatsApp and Facebook.
Using social media to get all personal information and pictures of someone to use it against them.
Sending emails containing obscene images and videos, displaying nude or morphed pictures along with threats and abuses.
Posting obscene/nude pictures of someone on the internet or on a pornographic website.
Monitoring a person’s activity by accessing a computer’s webcam or a computer device.

The punishment for online stalking is jail time up to three years along with a fine. For repeat offenders, the punishment is higher, i.e. up to five years jail time along with a fine.(( Section 354D, Indian Penal Code, 1860.))

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