USING TECH TO STALK VICTIMS
Is cyberstalking a crime?
Cyberstalking is illegal under the same laws as in-person stalking and can be just as intimidating, as victims often have no idea who is targeting them. The Government’s Online Safety bill, designed to force tech giants to address illegal and harmful content online, includes provisions for children, but there is currently nothing in the bill to protect women.
Cyberstalking cases increase
The idea of someone watching your every move is chilling – technology can give stalkers an extra veil of secrecy as well as myriad ways to intimidate their victims. It’s also on the rise, having increased by 46% during the pandemic. Women are 27 times more likely than men to be harassed online, and one in five experience online abuse.
Last year, one of Britain’s most prolific stalkers, Matthew Hardy, went to prison for eight years for intimidating more than 60 women online. One of them, Sabrina Cowley, was subjected to five years of harassment after a brief chance encounter with Hardy at a relative’s house. While some cyberstalk people they have never even met in real life, others harness technology to prey on former partners.
Tech-savvy stalkers can be extremely devious, using fake profiles on social media, hacking your accounts or devices and in some instances installing cameras or trackers.
‘He was watching my every move’
Linda*, who was cyberstalked by her abusive ex-husband, sought help from The Cyber Helpline, a charity providing free expert advice to victims of cyber crime.
When I escaped my abusive marriage, my ex was angry. He bombarded me with phone messages and emails, and ignored pleas to stop. Worryingly, he always seemed to know where I was and what I was doing.
One day I was driving down the motorway when I heard a meow. Thinking a cat was somehow trapped in the car, I pulled over. But there was nothing there. It happened again as I arrived at work.
Then I found a spy camera in my kitchen – he was watching my every move. Fearing he’d turn up at any moment, I turned to The Cyber Helpline for advice.
An expert explained how my ex was using the internet and my devices in order to stalk me. I felt scared and queasy at the thought there might be more hidden in the house. He had access to my icloud account and had set himself up on an app that shared my location. He was also logging in to my email and social media accounts.
They discovered my car could be set to give alert sounds at certain locations. And yes, one was a cat. They also found a tracking device.
The Cyber Helpline team worked with me to remove my ex’s access, secure my online accounts and devices, and share evidence to support the work being done by the police. My ex-husband was charged with stalking involving fear of violence.
‘I found a spy camera in my kitchen – he was watching me’