Cyber harassment is using the internet to intimidate or distress someone. To prove it, document the offender’s actions, find witnesses, and get a professional opinion on the emotional effects. Keep records of emails, messages, and screenshots, and seek expert opinions to show emotional distress.
Cyber harassment is the crime of using internet media, such as online messaging and web pages, to intimidate or distress a specific individual. Proving cyber harassment requires creating solid documentation of the offender’s actions, as well as finding reliable witnesses if possible. A professional opinion on the emotional effects of harassment is also needed.
Whatever form cyber harassment takes, which can range from fake images and ads posted on your behalf, to sending threatening messages, keep a record. Print copies of such emails, blog posts, web messages, and others directly from the website itself, using the print option from your web browser’s Print button or File menu. This ensures that essential details are included that might otherwise be overlooked when copying and pasting text. Do not delete any such messages you may have from the offender. If you have engaged in online correspondence with the offender, also keep and print copies of your responses.
Take a screenshot of the message or article in its original form, such as the email in your inbox or the offender’s blog post, and print it. Do not attempt to modify the screenshots or messages in any way before saving copies and printing them, as this will detract from their authenticity as valid documentation. If the message appears in a format that does not display the time and date it was posted, note the time and date the message was viewed. You can ask the site administrator or email service provider for the pertinent details of the message and the offender, although not everyone cooperates. Witnesses are more difficult to obtain on the internet, but can be useful in cases where the offender later deletes the post in question and denies having engaged in any of the relevant activities.
In some areas, cyber harassment law also includes electronic media such as text messages on cell phones. If this applies to you, keep the text messages and take a picture with a camera. Remember to include the date, time and number they were sent from. The sender’s data can be requested from the telecommunications company with the help of a lawyer.
The collection of documentation is sufficient to prove that the offender’s actions took place. In some cases, however, you’ll also need to prove that they caused you enough distress for the actions to be considered harassment. Meet with a psychologist, show them the hard copies you’ve made, and seek professional advice on the effect of such messages on the recipient. Request to be tested and examined for the adverse effects of harassment and get the results in writing. Visit another expert for written confirmation of the results and analysis of the first doctor. These expert opinions can help you show the emotional distress suffered by harassment.
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