theage: Cyber stalkers to be jailed for up to 10 years
Some more information on the forthcoming Victorian cyber-stalking law. The law will differ from existing stalking laws in that there is no requirement for harm or even “apprehension of fear” – the victim need not even be aware anything has occurred.
Victorian Attorney-General Rob Hulls confirmed yesterday that new legislation outlawing online stalking would be introduced early next month.“That means that if a person is stalked in a chatroom; if they are stalked by e-mail; if they are stalked on the Internet, it will be illegal,” Mr Hulls said.
“We think that it is important that the evil of stalking itself is made a crime whether or not the victim has been harmed,” he said.
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The Law Institute has endorsed the new law of cyber stalking, but opposes removal of the requirement that is central to existing stalking legislation that harm or apprehension of fear actually occur.
– The Age, Cyber stalkers to be jailed for up to 10 years.