Research On Emerging Cyber Harassment Contexts And Criminal Statutes
Case 1: Suhas Katti v. Tamil Nadu (India, 2004)
Facts:
A woman discovered that someone, later identified as Suhas Katti, was posting obscene and defamatory messages about her on Yahoo chat groups. The perpetrator also created fake email accounts in her name and circulated obscene content to her contacts, causing reputational harm and harassment. Phone calls were received by people believing she was soliciting sex work.
Legal Issues:
Section 67 of the IT Act 2000: Publishing or transmitting obscene material electronically.
Sections 469 & 509 of the IPC: Forgery, impersonation, and outraging the modesty of a woman.
The case also involved the use of electronic evidence, which needed certification under Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act.
Judgment:
Suhas Katti was convicted on multiple counts: 2 years’ rigorous imprisonment under Section 469 IPC, 1 year under Section 509 IPC, and 2 years under Section 67 of the IT Act, along with fines.
Significance:
First Indian conviction for cyber‑harassment involving fake email accounts and obscene online postings.
Set a precedent for the admissibility of electronic evidence in cybercrime cases.
Highlighted the seriousness of online harassment and impersonation.
Case 2: United States v. Lori Drew (USA, 2008–2009)
Facts:
Lori Drew created a fake MySpace profile of a teenage boy to engage a 13‑year-old girl named Megan Meier. Through this fake account, the girl was subjected to emotional manipulation and harassment, which eventually contributed to her suicide.
Legal Issues:
Prosecuted under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) for “exceeding authorized access” to a computer.
Central question: Could violations of website terms of service constitute a criminal offence under CFAA?
Judgment:
The jury deadlocked on felony conspiracy charges.
The misdemeanor convictions were later vacated because the statute was deemed too vague for the conduct.
Significance:
Demonstrated the limitations of traditional computer statutes for addressing cyber‑harassment.
Highlighted the need for specific cyber‑bullying or harassment laws.
Inspired US states to create targeted statutes for online harassment and bullying.
Case 3: Rituparna Roy v. State of West Bengal (India, 2022)
Facts:
An ex‑boyfriend harassed the victim online through repeated messages, threats, and attempts to stalk her digitally. The harassment included emails, social media messages, and other online communication, causing severe psychological distress.
Legal Issues:
IT Act provisions related to cyberstalking and harassment.
Sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to stalking, harassment of women, and criminal intimidation.
Judgment:
The Calcutta High Court recognized the seriousness of digital harassment and emphasized timely action and gender-sensitive investigation by cybercrime units.
Significance:
Reinforced the application of modern Indian statutes to online harassment.
Highlighted that digital stalking is as serious as offline harassment.
Set an example for courts to treat online threats as actionable offences.
Case 4: Affaire Mila (France, 2020–2021)
Facts:
A teenage girl named Mila posted videos criticizing Islam on social media platforms. In response, she received over 100,000 harassing messages including death threats, rape threats, and misogynistic comments.
Legal Issues:
Harassment and threats under French cybercrime and hate laws.
Balancing freedom of speech with protection from online harassment.
Judgment:
The Paris court convicted 11 out of 13 defendants who were sending threats and abusive messages. Sentences were suspended prison terms of 4–6 months and fines.
Significance:
Highlighted mass-scale cyber harassment fueled by social media.
Raised critical debates about freedom of expression versus online harassment.
Demonstrated proactive use of law to punish organized online abuse.
Case 5: Irish Coco’s Law Prosecution (Ireland, 2023)
Facts:
An ex-partner of a public figure shared non-consensual intimate images and sent threatening communications over social media. The victim was subjected to ongoing psychological distress.
Legal Issues:
Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 (“Coco’s Law”).
Charges included sending threatening messages and distributing intimate images without consent.
Judgment:
The perpetrator was sentenced to 4 months in prison plus 4 months suspended.
Significance:
One of the first applications of Ireland’s modern image-based abuse laws.
Demonstrated that online harassment and threats are treated seriously under dedicated statutes.
Highlighted the law’s deterrent effect in image-based cyber abuse.
Case 6: Hyderabad Morphed Photos Case (India, 2025)
Facts:
A man befriended a woman online, secretly recorded private video calls, and then circulated morphed obscene images of her and her family on social media. The harassment also involved a minor, and the perpetrator shared the victim’s personal contact information publicly.
Legal Issues:
IT Act Section 67A: Publishing sexually explicit material electronically.
BNS Sections on voyeurism, stalking, harassment, and criminal intimidation.
Judgment:
Police registered a case immediately, initiated takedown of content, and arrested the accused. Trial is ongoing, but interim protective measures and blocking of accounts were enforced.
Significance:
Example of contemporary cyber‑harassment combining morphed images, blackmail, and family targeting.
Showed how Indian authorities are responding to new forms of digital harassment.
Emphasized the intersection of privacy violations, sexual abuse, and online stalking.
These six cases together show:
How cyber‑harassment has evolved from chatroom trolling to sophisticated image-based abuse.
The need for specialized statutes like the IT Act amendments, BNS, and Coco’s Law.
How courts handle evidence, jurisdiction, and the balance between rights and protection.
The increasing importance of timely enforcement and victim protection.
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