MPs call for cyber stalking to carry prison term

There have been calls for one of the most heinous of Internet related activities to come with a prison sentence. Since the advent of the Internet, cyber-stalking has become a very prevalent crime. It still doesn’t carry anywhere near the same punishments that real life stalking does though.

MPs campaigning for it to become an offence have called for the police and prosecutors to take complaints more seriously than they do already. It’s clear that problems with cyber stalking and bullying are starting to become a lot more important though.

Data has shown that in total only 2.2% of the reported 55,000 incidents ever receive a prosecution. If you take into account that most of those receiving prosecutions are not cyber stalkers you can see where the problem lies.

Cyber bullying more than stalking is something that lingers around in the online gambling industry. We’re not talking about stumbling across Tony G on PartyPoker and him telling you that you’re no better than his dog. It’s the kind of schoolyard bullying that people think is ok as there’s a computer screen in the way. There’s nothing stopping it from developing into stalking either.

We also reported recently that women are increasingly using Facebook to embrace the dark art of stalking. So the next time you decide to take on Calvin’s mantra of making many women happy just be careful to pick the ones who aren’t always on Facebook. They’re probably just in it for the stalk.

It’s a good step that MPs in the UK are deciding to tackle this. It’s not something that should be taken at all lightly. The perpetrators likely don’t take a second thought for the victims when it can easily have the same or worse effect if it’s online. Trash talking and mild Facebook snooping of other people’s profiles is fine. Just don’t cross the line into the murky world of stalking. You’ll regret it.

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