Although neither the Colorado harassment statute nor the federal cyber stalking give a civil right of action (only criminal), a violation of the statute may serve as evidence for more traditional common law torts such as intentional infliction of emotional distress. Likewise, camfecting may give grounds to a civil claim for an invasion of privacy. In cases of revenge porn, victims are entitled to a civil action under Colorado statutes C.R.S. § 18-7-107 and C.R.S. § 18-7-108.

At the Law Office of Cassandra M. Kirsch, LLC, we can help you determine your best course of action against a cyber tortfeasor, whether that be a cease and desist letter, an advocacy letter to law enforcement for investigation, or litigation. Contact our law firm to schedule a paid consultation with an attorney to discuss the facts of your cyber tort case and how we protect your cyber rights.

REVENGE PORN

STATE REMEDIES

Cyber torts are probably the most recent and complex problem to appear on the Internet.

A tort is a negligent or intentional act is done by someone that injures someone else in some way. Cyber Torts are those torts committed in cyberspace or by using computer either as an instrumentality, target or a means for perpetuating the tort.

Our firm handles all manners of cyber torts, including online harassment, cyber stalking, camfecting, and unauthorized disclosures of intimate images ("revenge porn").

If you are receiving death threats or believe yourself or your children to be in immediate physical danger, please dial 911 immediately.

Minors, especially LGBT youth, and women are primary targets for online harassment campaigns.

Colorado criminalizes harassment using social media. The statutory definition of "social media" includes email and text messages.

The statute, C.R.S 18-9-111, makes it a class 3 misdemeanor to directly or indirectly initiate "communication with a person or directs language toward another person, anonymously or otherwise" in a manner intended to harass or threaten bodily injury or property damage, or makes any comment, request, suggestion, or proposal using a computer, phone, or social media that is obscene.

"Obscene” means a patently offensive description of ultimate sexual acts or solicitation to commit ultimate sexual acts, whether or not said ultimate sexual acts are normal or perverted, actual or simulated, including masturbation, cunnilingus, fellatio, analingus, or excretory functions.

Read how our firm can help in cases of online harassment targeting minors and cyber bullying here.

The U.S. cyber stalking law, 18 USC § 2261A, makes it a crime to engage in conduct that creates a “reasonable fear” of harm or “substantial emotional distress” using the mail, any interactive computer service or any facility of interstate commerce.

WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS ?

FEDERAL REMEDIES

CYBER TORTS

Call Today: (303) 228-2165

CAMFECTING

On June 21, 2015, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver addressed the spread of revenge porn and online harassment

The Law Office of

Cassandra M. Kirsch, LLC

Revenge porn, or the unauthorized sharing of intimate pictures, is illegal in Colorado. The Colorado statutes create a civil and criminal remedy. Read more about Colorado's revenge porn laws and how our firm can help you here.

ONLINE HARASSMENT

Online harassment takes many forms. It generally describes a situation in which someone uses social media or other information technology such as cell phones, emails, or instant messaging to deliberately threaten, harass, or intimidate another person. Online harassment can include cyber stalking, unsolicited genitalia pictures, sharing private or intimate information about the victim with others, and infecting another person's computer or electronic device with a virus.

According to a 2014 Pew Research report, nearly 73% of adult internet users have seen someone be harassed in some way online and 40% have personally experienced it.

Camfecting is is the process of taking over the operation of another person's webcam and activating it without the owner's permission. There is no specific federal or Colorado statute for camfecting.

That being said, there are several federal and state laws that criminalize the acts giving rise to camfecting.

The federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) makes it illegal to intercept electronic communications without authorization, but doesn’t explicitly forbid images. If the software used to take over the webcam is programmed to collect sound recording along with video from the infected webcam, then the camfecting would be considered a crime since it intercepted verbal communications. That being said, if you are using what is considered a “protected computer,” or one used by the U.S. Government, financial institutions, or involved in interstate commerce, then you may be covered under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) and could take legal actions against the hacker.

Under Colorado's Computer Crime Statute, C.R.S. § 18-5.5-102, it's a crime to knowingly access another's computer without authorization. By virtue of the secretive and hidden nature of camfecting, anyone caught camfecting in Colorado would likely face charges under the statute.

If there's any evidence that the purpose of the camfecting was for the sexual gratification of the individual on the other end of hack, then the camfecting likely gives rise to a criminal invasion of privacy for sexual gratification under C.R.S. § 18-3-405.6.

Camfecting also likely gives rise to a variety of civil actions, including an invasion of privacy by intrusion upon seclusion.The tort of intrusion upon seclusion occurs when a person intentionally intrudes, physically or otherwise, upon the solitude or seclusion of another or his private affairs or concerns, and the intrusion would be highly offensive to a reasonable person.

Read more about privacy claims for intrusion upon seclusion and how our firm can help you here.