Public Awareness

Bulletins - Winter 2010 OPDV Bulletin

The Use of Technology in Stalking

The incredible advances in technology in recent years have enabled us to be more connected to people and places than ever before. E-mail, texting, social networking, GPS, and other common technologies have become tools that many of us rely on heavily in our daily lives. For some people, however, these technologies have been used against them. They have been used to track people without their knowledge, to monitor what they do on their computer, and to impersonate them on-line. These people are victims of stalking through the use of technology, sometimes called “cyberstalking”. As technology continues to grow and improve, so does stalkers’ ability to terrorize their victims.

Because technology is constantly evolving, it can be difficult to stay well informed about what tools stalkers are using and what to do to protect yourself. The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) has a program specifically to address technology issues and intimate partner violence called Safety Net: Safe and Strategic Technology Project.

Q&A About the Use of Technology in Stalking

This Q&A was conducted with Erica Olsen (pictured right), Technology Safety Specialist, Safety Net: Safe & Strategic Technology Project, National Network to End Domestic Violence.

Q: What is cyberstalking?

A: Cyberstalking is the misuse of the Internet to stalk and harass someone. Although used frequently, it’s important to recognize that the term can be misleading. The term cyberstalking is most useful when it is clearly defined to include the array of technologies and tactics a stalker may be misusing; otherwise, the responses of advocates or law enforcement may not fully address all options.

Saying the “use of technology to stalk” is more accurate since the word “technology” includes a wider variety of tools.

Q: What are some technologies that stalkers use?

A: Stalkers can misuse the internet to send repeated emails or instant messages, find a victim’s personal or location information, or monitor someone’s computer activity through Spyware. Computer monitoring software or hardware can be installed without the stalker ever having physical access to the computer. Stalkers may use hidden cameras to spy on someone’s activities or place a GPS tracker on the victim’s car to monitor her location. Stalkers might also harass the person by calling or texting numerous times a day.

The technologies stalkers use depend on the kind of relationship they have with the victim and their access to the victim and their property (i.e., house or car).

Q: How have social networking sites (i.e., Facebook, Twitter) been used to stalk victims?

A: Social networking sites can be misused to send harassing messages or to post explicit pictures taken with or without the consent of the victim. Stalkers also impersonate victims, sending inappropriate messages to family members, friends, and co-workers.

In a few cases, stalkers have posted something harassing and threatening online. In one case, a stalker posted a video of himself singing about killing his ex-girlfriend. In court, the judge felt it was a direct threat and grounds for granting an Order of Protection.

Although social networking sites raise many concerns for safety and privacy, they have not been seen as a major vehicle for stalking. We encourage users to make use of privacy features and to be cautious when posting personal information.

Q: What are some signs that someone is being cyberstalked?

A: In the majority of stalking cases, the victim will know the stalker and although they might not use the term “stalking” or “cyberstalking” to describe behavior, the stalking activities will be apparent. We encourage victims to trust their instincts regarding how they feel about someone’s behavior. It’s also important to note if stalking behaviors coincide with anything else, like the person giving a new phone or keyboard as a present or making changes on a family plan phone account. This may help to narrow down what tools the stalker is using. But, it is rare that a stalker would use only technology to stalk. Repeated calls or emails, harassing messages, flowers or notes on a victim’ car or at their workplace, or constantly showing up where the victim is, are all common behaviors of stalkers.

Q: If someone thinks they are being stalked through technology, what can they do?

A: We always encourage people to trust their instincts. Unfortunately, it is quite easy for stalkers to access technologies and learn how to misuse them. Although what may be happening to a victim can sound strange (i.e., “Someone knows everything I do on my computer.”), it is very possible that a stalker is using technology to do this.

If someone thinks they are being stalked, we encourage them to contact an advocate to discuss safety planning. There are many ways that a person can strategically use technology to maintain their safety and keep information away from the stalker. Safety planning can include anything from doing an Internet search for the victim’s name to see what information would be available online to the stalker, to having police or a mechanic do a sweep of the vehicle for possible GPS, to talking about privacy features on social networking sites. It’s also important to discuss a safe response to the stalking, as removing surveillance equipment or changing email accounts may alert the stalker and possibly increase risk.

Some other steps a person could take include talking to their phone company about blocking calls, opening up and using an alternative email account on a safer computer (one the stalker doesn’t have remote or physical access to), and getting an alternative pay-as-you-go phone that the stalker doesn’t know about.

There are several helpful handouts on our website that provide additional safety tips and information.