Canadian Clearinghouse on Cyberstalking NCFTA Presentation
- 1. Research Education Self-Help Referral National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance Canada Nov. 25, 2010
- 2. ) Randy McCall President, Victim Assistance Online Project Manager Canadian Clearinghouse on Cyberstalking Webmaster and Internet consultant: • Police Victim Services of British Columbia • World Society of Victimology
- 3. ¥ Objective: To create a bilingual web-based Canadian information and referral resource, through which to provide information and assistance for adultresource, through which to provide information and assistance for adult victims of online criminal harassment – as defined by the Criminal Code of Canada – commonly known as cyberstalking
- 4. ) Goals: Create a clearinghouse for news, information and research useful to professionals working with adult cyberstalking victims, in the form ofprofessionals working with adult cyberstalking victims, in the form of a searchable database linking to publicly available materials Create public education materials on the crime of cyberstalking Create a self-help resource for victims of cyberstalking Create a reference or referral system to connect victims with assisting agencies, institutions or organizations
- 5. + Who is producing the Clearinghouse project? Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime Victim Assistance Online http://www.vaonline.org/Victims of Crime http://www.crcvc.ca/ http://www.vaonline.org/ Victim’s Fund, Department of Justice http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/pcvi- cpcv/proj.html
- 6. + Defining Terminology Criminal Harassment "No person shall … engage in conduct ... that"No person shall … engage in conduct ... that causes that other person reasonably … to fear for their safety or the safety of anyone known to them” Criminal Harassment §264
- 7. + Defining Terminology “…When the Internet, cell phones or other Cyberbullying “…When the Internet, cell phones or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person.“ US National Crime Prevention Council
- 8. + Defining Terminology Cyberstalking Ongoing criminal harassment via electronicOngoing criminal harassment via electronic networks which creates a reasonable fear for life or safety of person
- 9. + How serious is cyberstalking in Canada? In 2009, 80% of Canadians aged 16 and older, or 21.7 million people, used the Internet for personal reasons, up from 73% in 2007 when the survey was last conducted.the survey was last conducted. Canadian Internet Use Survey, Statscan, 2010
- 10. How serious is cyberstalking in Canada? 34,108,800 population of Canada, 2010 As no statistics on cyberstalking in Canada are available, we will approximate using statistics from a country with similar culture, technology and Stalking Victims = 13.9 per 1000 of general pop. 25% of these suffered some form of cyberstalking Of the cyberstalked group, 5% reported the use of electronic monitoring Of those monitored, 45% reported malware or hacking, and 9.7% reported being tracked by GPS a country with similar culture, technology and Internet penetration: USA Stalking Report 2009
- 11. ) How serious is cyberstalking in Canada? 34,108,800 population of Canada By using our population, but applying statistics from the Special Report, we get rough approximations of potential levels of electronic harassment in Canada 474,112 victims of stalking in any 12 month period 118,528 potential Canadian victims 5926 potential Canadian electronic monitoring victims 2667 malware and 574 GPS tracking potential victims potential levels of electronic harassment in Canada
- 12. ) Literature review: cases constituting criminal cyberstalking? ( Bernard Reyns, 2010) 118,525 potential victims of cyberstalking %ofstudiedgroupsconsideredfitting criteriaofcriminal %ofstudiedgroupsconsideredfitting criteriaofcriminalcyberstalking
- 13. ) Do these cases constitute cyberstalking? 118,525 potential Canadian victims of electronic harassment Results of studies which used the most and least stringent test for a case to be considered criminal, and average of results of the studies. Applying these to the approximated number of Canadian being harassed online gives: 3.7% of sample (most stringent definition) 7.2% of sample (2nd most stringent) 20% average of samples 31% of sample (loosest definition) the approximated number of Canadian being harassed online gives:
- 14. ) Do these cases constitute cyberstalking? 118,525 potential Canadian victims of electronic harassment The number of cases in any 12 month period which, statistically, could fall within the legal definition of criminal cyberstalking in Canada; incidents which cause fear of life or safety. 4386 victims of cyberstalking 8534 victims of cyberstalking 23,705 victims of cyberstalking 36,744 victims of cyberstalking cause fear of life or safety.
- 15. ) Who is being cyberstalked? Working to Halt Online Abuse: WHO@ http://www.haltabuse.org/ 2009 Victimization Statistics, most common victim type:2009 Victimization Statistics, most common victim type: Female (78%) 18-30 years old (34%) | 31-40 (30%) | 41+ (32%) Caucasian (69.5%) Single (43%) or of unknown status (34%).
- 16. ) Who is being cyberstalked? Working to Halt Online Abuse: WHO@ http://www.haltabuse.org/ 2009 Offender Statistics, most common features:2009 Offender Statistics, most common features: Male (48%) Previous connection with victim (64%) No previous connection (29%) Offender located outside victim’s region/country (64%)
- 17. Who is being cyberstalked? Working to Halt Online Abuse: WHO@ http://www.haltabuse.org/ 2009 Progression of cases:2009 Progression of cases: Escalation (66%) Threats to life or safety (16.5%) E-mail and web forums were the most common mediums 72% reported offence to some authority before contact WHO@
- 18. ) Who is being cyberstalked? Working to Halt Online Abuse: WHO@ http://www.haltabuse.org/ 2009 Resolution of cases, in order of effectiveness:2009 Resolution of cases, in order of effectiveness: • Victim changed e-mail address, ISP, username and/or password • Reported incident to stalker’s ISP(s) • Victim was referred to law enforcement • Reported case to web site host / owner • Reported case to MySpace • Reported incident to moderator • Reported to social networking or specialty site • Referred victim to lawyer Note that victims could take most actions themselves, if they knew how
- 19. ) Canadian cyberstalking assistance Organizations for Canadian cyberstalking victims: 0 Canadian websites specifically on cyberstalking : 0 • Crime victim service sites • Domestic violence agencies • Internet Service Providers • Internet information services Nature of Canadian sites with cyberstalking information • Law enforcement agencies • Privacy organizations • Sexual assault crisis agencies • Victims rights advocacy organizations Information presented tended to reference prevention. Little on what to do once electronic harassment had begun, with exception of reporting threats to police
- 20. ) Canadian cyberstalking assistance • CyberAngels Most common cyberstalking links on Canadian sites • CyberAngels • Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) • National Center for Victims of Crime Stalking Resource Center • National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) • Online Privacy Alliance • Wired Safety Cyber911 Emergency • Working to Halt Online Abuse (WHOA) Where Canadian sites posted links to assisting organizations, said organizations were mostly located in – and/or focused on – the USA.
- 21. ̹嘠 Lessons Learned There is a need for a Canadian cyberstalking information and referral service There is a need for professional resources, for That cyberstalking ignores borders, so national and international connections with ISPs, law enforcement, government and direct service agencies are needed With proper information, victims can stop simple harassment before it reaches the level of a criminal offence, and – in more serious cases – help gather evidence to show a pattern of electronic harassment Where fear for life or safety is created, victims must report to police. They may be more comfortable in doing so if they understand police and court processes There is a need for professional resources, for assisting victims, research, or case resolution
- 22. ̻ Cyberstalking is entering the public awareness
- 23. ̻ Elements of the Canadian Clearinghouse on Cyberstalking Research Library Public Education Self-Help Referral Networking
- 24. ̻窰 Elements of the Canadian Clearinghouse on Cyberstalking Research Library: News, information, research article database Public Education: What is cyberstalking, what are its effects? Self-Help: Factual information: stopping harassers, evidence collection, criminal justice process Referral: Criteria-based referral to assisting agencies Networking: Multi-disciplinary, international connections promoting: news and information exchange, best practices, synergistic effects, co-education, and input on Clearinghouse development
- 25. ሀϻ Elements of the Canadian Clearinghouse on Cyberstalking Canadian Clearinghouse on Cyberstalking Professionals Listserv Presently our major medium for networking is the CCC Professionals listserv; an international e-mail discussion list for all professionals in fields working with, solving cases for, dealing with legislation about, or directly assisting victims of cyberstalking For information on the listserv, contact us at: info@cyberstalking.ca
- 26. ̻ Contact Us Randy McCall, Project Manager info@cyberstalking.ca | info@cyber-harcelement.cainfo@cyberstalking.ca | info@cyber-harcelement.ca http://www.vaonline.org/ info@vaonline.org Skype: randy.mccall SkypeIn: (202) 657 5507