Revise Legal Frameworks to Address Tech-Abuse and Stalking in Domestic Violence Cases
Revise Legal Frameworks to Address Tech-Abuse and Stalking in Domestic Violence Cases
The Issue
As victim of tech-abuse and post-separation stalking, I have lived the reality of our legislatively flawed legal system firsthand. While incidents are acknowledged, and potential Clare's Law searches logged, no reprimand, robust solution, or enhanced protection are provided - a glaring flaw in our legal system.
The digital sphere has revolutionised how abusers execute domestic violence, leading to a surge in cases involving cyber stalking and harassment using social media. A 2019 report from the Pew Research Center found that 47% of internet users have experienced online harassment or abuse.[1]
‘Despite the ubiquity of information communication technologies across all aspects of social life, definitions and measurement of stalking have not kept pace with this cultural shift.’[2]
This petition calls for a comprehensive review and reassessment of the legal frameworks concerning domestic abuse, specifically targeting the rampant misuse of social media by abusers to isolate, harass, and engage in post-separation stalking.
Our call is rooted in the described personal experience and substantiated by the Bureau of Justice Statistics report showing that an alarming 71% of victims in cyber stalking incidents knew their offender in some capacity[3].
I have been compelled to sacrifice various aspects of my social freedom. I have lost networks for support, socialising and safety. Countless other victims share this enforced isolation.
Changing our legal approach to these issues is not merely an adaptation to the digital era, but also an obligation to protect and serve survivors.
Post-separation abuse has been the hardest part of my ordeal, as living under constant covert observation forces me to self-police more rigorously than I ever did in my controlling relationship. This extension of abuse is exhausting and leaves me questioning if life under direct control was simpler than enduring digital stalking and reprimands.
Our plea is for legislative bodies to recognise this legal loophole and take firm preventative actions: reassessing and amending laws that inhibit the effective protection of known victims from the evolving peril of tech-abuse and post-separation stalking. It's time for our laws to not only reflect our digital reality but defend those most at risk within it. Sign to join this urgent call for change.
References:
[1] https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/01/13/the-state-of-online-harassment/
[2] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10896-019-00114-7
33,233
The Issue
As victim of tech-abuse and post-separation stalking, I have lived the reality of our legislatively flawed legal system firsthand. While incidents are acknowledged, and potential Clare's Law searches logged, no reprimand, robust solution, or enhanced protection are provided - a glaring flaw in our legal system.
The digital sphere has revolutionised how abusers execute domestic violence, leading to a surge in cases involving cyber stalking and harassment using social media. A 2019 report from the Pew Research Center found that 47% of internet users have experienced online harassment or abuse.[1]
‘Despite the ubiquity of information communication technologies across all aspects of social life, definitions and measurement of stalking have not kept pace with this cultural shift.’[2]
This petition calls for a comprehensive review and reassessment of the legal frameworks concerning domestic abuse, specifically targeting the rampant misuse of social media by abusers to isolate, harass, and engage in post-separation stalking.
Our call is rooted in the described personal experience and substantiated by the Bureau of Justice Statistics report showing that an alarming 71% of victims in cyber stalking incidents knew their offender in some capacity[3].
I have been compelled to sacrifice various aspects of my social freedom. I have lost networks for support, socialising and safety. Countless other victims share this enforced isolation.
Changing our legal approach to these issues is not merely an adaptation to the digital era, but also an obligation to protect and serve survivors.
Post-separation abuse has been the hardest part of my ordeal, as living under constant covert observation forces me to self-police more rigorously than I ever did in my controlling relationship. This extension of abuse is exhausting and leaves me questioning if life under direct control was simpler than enduring digital stalking and reprimands.
Our plea is for legislative bodies to recognise this legal loophole and take firm preventative actions: reassessing and amending laws that inhibit the effective protection of known victims from the evolving peril of tech-abuse and post-separation stalking. It's time for our laws to not only reflect our digital reality but defend those most at risk within it. Sign to join this urgent call for change.
References:
[1] https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/01/13/the-state-of-online-harassment/
[2] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10896-019-00114-7
33,233
Supporter Voices
Petition created on 11 December 2024