Cyberstalking and Cyberharassment Laws

Overview
List of State Statutes

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Pam Greenberg

Jan. 12, 2015

States have enacted "cyberstalking" or "cyberharassment" laws or have laws that explicitly include electronic forms of communication within more traditional stalking or harassment laws. This chart identifies state laws that include specific references to electronic communication. However, other state laws may still apply to those who harass, threaten or bully others online, although specific language may make the laws easier to enforce. This chart classifies the various state laws addressing these types of online behaviors, as described below.

(This chart does not cover cyberbullying laws. Cyberbullying and cyberharassment are sometimes used interchangeably, but cyberbullying generally refers to electronic harassment or bullying among minors within a school context. See the NCSL Education Program's cyberbullying page for more information on cyberbullyings laws and legislation.)

PLEASE NOTE: NCSL cannot provide assistance with individual cases. NCSL serves state legislators and their staff. This site provides comparative information only and should not be construed as legal advice.

For information about how to deal with cyberstalking or online harassment, visit OnGuardOnline or follow these guidelines.

Overview

Cyberstalking. Cyberstalking is the use of the Internet, email or other electronic communications to stalk, and generally refers to a pattern of threatening or malicious behaviors. Cyberstalking may be considered the most dangerous of the three types of Internet harassment, based on a posing credible threat of harm. Sanctions range from misdemeanors to felonies.

Cyberharassment. Cyberharassment differs from cyberstalking in that it may generally be defined as not involving a credible threat. Cyberharassment usually pertains to threatening or harassing email messages, instant messages, or to blog entries or websites dedicated solely to tormenting an individual. Some states approach cyberharrassment by including language addressing electronic communications in general harassment statutes, while others have created stand-alone cyberharassment statutes.

State Statutes

State/Territory	Cyberstalking	Cyberharassment
Alabama		Ala. Code § 13A-11-8
Alaska	Alaska Stat. §§ 11.41.260, 11.41.270
Arizona	Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-2923	Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 13-2916, 13-2921
Arkansas	Ark. Code § 5-41-108	Ark. Code § 5-41-108
California	Cal. Civil Code § 1708.7, Cal Penal Code § 646.9	Cal. Penal Code §§ 422, 653.2, 653m
Colorado	Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 18-602, 18-9-111	Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-9-111
Connecticut	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-181d	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-182b, 53a-183
Delaware		Del. Code tit. 11 § 1311
Florida	Fla. Stat. § 784.048	Fla. Stat. § 784.048
Georgia	Georgia Code § 16-5-90
Hawaii		Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 711-1106
Idaho	Idaho Stat. §§ 18-7905, 18-7906
Illinois	720 ILCS §§ 5/12-7.3, 5/12-7.5 740 ILCS 21/1 et seq.	720 ILCS 51/26.5-3, 720 ILCS 51/26.5-5
Indiana		Ind. Code § 35-45-2-2
Iowa		Iowa Code § 708.7
Kansas	Kan. Stat. § 21-5427	Kan. Stat. § 21 -6206
Kentucky	Ky. Rev. Stat. § 508.130 to .150
Louisiana	La. Rev. Stat. §§ 14:40.2, 14:40.3
Maine	Me. Rev. Stat. tit 17A § 210A (see 2007 Me. Laws, Ch. 685, sec. 3 re: intent)
Maryland		Md. Code tit. 3 § 3-805 (2013 H.B. 396, Chapter 369)
Massachusetts	Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265 § 43	Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265 § 43A
Michigan	Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 750.411h, 750.411i	Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.411s
Minnesota	Minn. Stat. § 609.749	Minn. Stat. § 609.795
Mississippi	Miss. Code §§ 97-45-15, 97-45-17, 97-3-107	Miss. Code § 97-29-45
Missouri	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 565.225	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 565.090
Montana	Mont. Code Ann. § 45-5-220	Mont. Code Ann. § 45-8-213
Nebraska*	Neb. Rev. Stat.§ 28-311.02	Neb. Rev. Stat.§ 28-311.02
Nevada	Nev. Rev. Stat. § 200.575
New Hampshire		N.H. Rev. Stat. § 644:4
New Jersey	N.J. Stat. § 2C:12-10, 2C:12-10.1
New Mexico*		N.M. Stat. § 30-3A-3
New York	New York Penal Law § 120.45 ¹	New York Penal Law § 240.30
North Carolina	N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-196.3	N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-196(b)
North Dakota		N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-17-07
Ohio	Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.211	Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2917.21(A), 2913.01(Y)
Oklahoma	Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1173	Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1172
Oregon	Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 163.730 to 163.732	Or. Rev. Stat. § 166.065
Pennsylvania	Pa. Cons. Stat. tit. § 18 2709.1	Pa. Cons. Stat. tit. 18 § 2709(a), 2709(f)
Rhode Island	R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 8-8.1-1, 11-52-4.2	R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-52-4.2
South Carolina	S.C. Code §§ 16-3-1700	S.C. Code §§ 16-3-1700, 16-17-430
South Dakota	S.D. Cod. Laws § 22-19A	S.D. Cod. Laws § 22-19A
Tennessee	Tenn. Code § 39-17-315	Tenn. Code § 39-17-308
Texas		Tx. Penal Code § 33.07
Utah	Utah Code § 76-5-106.5	Utah Code § 76-9-201
Vermont	Vt. Stat. tit. 13 §§ 1061, 1062, 1063	Vt. Stat. tit. 13 § 1027
Virginia	Va. Code § 18.2-60	Va. Code § 18.2-152.7:1
Washington	Wash. Rev. Code §§ 9A.46.110, 9.61.260	Wash. Rev. Code §§ 9A.46.020, 10.14.020
West Virginia		W. Va. Code § 61-3C-14a
Wisconsin		Wis. Stat. § 947.0125
Wyoming	Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-506
Territories:
Guam	X.G.C.A. tit. 9 §§ 19.69, 19.70	X.G.C.A. tit. 9 §§ 19.69, 19.70

* Statute does not specify "electronic" or "Internet," but refers to "telephoning, contacting, or otherwise communicating..." (Nebraska) or "by any action, method, device or means..." (New Mexico).

¹ Does not refer to electronic communication, but prohibits unauthorized tracking by use of GPS or other electronic device.

PLEASE NOTE: The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) serves state legislators and their staff. This site provides comparative information only and should not be construed as legal advice. NCSL cannot provide assistance with individual cases.