Stalking Is a Crime

What to do if you are being stalked or criminally harassed

Cyberstalking involves the use of information and communication technology, particularly the Internet, by an individual or group to harass, intimidate and cause you fear. Common abusive behaviours that occur with the use of technology include monitoring communications with others, transmitting threats, making false accusations, identify theft, damage to personal data or equipment, solicitation of minors for sexual purposes and other forms of aggression.

When you put your profile on a social network (ex: MySpace, Facebook, Twitter), on an online dating service or on any site that shares information about the users, it is accessible to anyone using a computer. Once your information

is in the network, it may continue to be available to anyone, even strangers, even though you remove it from the site address.

Stalking occurs when a person who has no legal reason to contact you, continues to bother you after you have said you want to be left alone. This repeated, unwanted contact can make you afraid for your personal safety. We call this behaviour stalking and it is against the law. In Canada, when criminal charges are laid by the police for stalking, the crime is known as criminal harassment. This booklet will help you understand stalking and find ways to protect yourself.

Ficha Bibliográfica

MANITOBA JUSTICE VICTIM SERVICES, "Stalking is a Crime" MANITOBA PUBLISHER, Canada 2009, disponible en:http://www.gov.mb.ca/justice/domestic/pdf/stalkingweb.pdf