Stalking is generally a course conduct directed toward a specific person (or the person’s family, friends, or work associates) that would cause a reasonable person to be in fear of their safety, health, or well-being. Stalking includes (1) spying on a person; (2) waiting at a location to make unwanted contact with the victim, or to monitor the victim; (3) leaving unwanted items and gifts for the victim; and (4) posting or disseminating information or rumors about the victim on the internet, in a public place, or by word of mouth.

Stalkers may also use technology to harass their victim. Common forms of cyberstalking include:

• e-mail spoofing—sending e-mails pretending to be the victim • text messaging and sexting (sending sexually explicit text messages or photos)

• social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.)—creating social media accounts and posting statements to harass, threaten, or denigrate the victim, or to impersonate the victim on social media

• online impersonation of the victim through a false identity or account to place online sex ads or solicit sex

• use of GPS to track the victim, including placing a GPS device on the victim’s car.

Stalking is a crime under federal law (18 U.S.C. §2261A) and in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories, and many Indian Tribes. In addition to stalking laws, every state has laws addressing electronic harassment, and federal law also criminalizes the use of technology to stalk (18 U.S.C. §2261A(2)).

Legal definitions for stalking and harassment vary from state to state and in the federal system—especially regarding the stalker’s intent and the nature of the victim’s fear or emotional distress caused by the stalking.

In Georgia, stalking is defined under O.C.G.A. § 16-5-90 as following, placing under surveillance, or contacting another person without their consent for the purpose of harassing and intimidating the individual. This includes behavior that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of their family, and it must be evident that the stalker has the intent to cause such fear. Georgia law also addresses cyberstalking through O.C.G.A. § 16-5-92, which prohibits the use of computer or electronic communication to threaten, harass, or intimidate a person. This encompasses various forms of electronic harassment, including email spoofing, text messaging, social media abuse, online impersonation, and the use of GPS tracking devices. Violations of these statutes can result in criminal charges ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on the severity and nature of the stalking behavior. Additionally, federal law under 18 U.S.C. §2261A criminalizes stalking, including the use of technology to harass or intimidate, providing further legal recourse for victims.