From Surveillance to Terror: The Shocking Scale of Stalking and Cyber Harassment in Modern Society

You open your phone and see a message. An ordinary line of words, but behind it – a shadow. Someone is watching you. He knows where you were yesterday, who your friends are, even what you wore this morning. You block him, change passwords, delete accounts, but he always finds a way back.

The modern world is becoming increasingly unsafe. Every time you check your social media or get a message on your phone, fear begins to choke you. Is it someone from your past? Can anyone be a complete stranger? What does he want? Why is he watching you?

Violence in the modern world has acquired new, hidden forms, which often remain invisible to those around them, but cause deep psychological trauma to their victims. One of the most disturbing manifestations of this phenomenon is stalking — persecution and obsessive control over another person’s life. Although it may seem like only a small violation of personal space, stalking turns into a real nightmare for the victim, undermining his sense of security and peace.

Every day, thousands of people face this hidden violence, which does not always end only in moral suffering, but can have terrible consequences for both mental and physical health. The new terror of the modern world, where the stalker can always be nearby, invisible and elusive, thanks to the technology you trust.

A shadow in your life

The world in which we live is plunged into the darkness of aggression and violence, which spreads like a poisonous fog, poisoning our souls and destroying our future. Every day news reports about brutal attacks, fights, shootings, terrorist attacks. But this is only the tip of the iceberg. Violence penetrates into every corner of our lives, hiding in faceless statistics, behind ordinary faces, behind the doors of homes, where pain, tears and screams have long become commonplace. We see it in the eyes of passers-by on the street – a flash of aggression from an accidental touch, a threatening gesture due to a minor conflict in a store or on the road. The world is seething with rage, and it seems that we are on the verge of an explosion that will leave nothing but ruins. It is not somewhere far away, not in another country, it is close to us. People increasingly choose violence as the first way to resolve conflicts. Families are broken, children suffer, blood is spilled in places where love and trust should reign.

According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, as of 2024, 8,185 criminal offenses related to domestic violence were registered in Ukraine, and more than 5,000 people suffered from them. Most of the victims are women and children. Compared to previous years, the number of cases of domestic violence increased by 80%. Not the last role in increasing this indicator is played by the war. It would seem that adversity should bring people together, teach them to sympathize and support. But, unfortunately, statistics confirm the increase in the level of aggression.  Every year, about 200,000 people suffer from violence in Ukraine, 90% of them are women. According to the Ministry of Social Policy, there is a trend towards an increase in the following cases from year to year:

• 2021 – 284,221 cases;
• 2022 – 251,829 cases;
• 2023 – 251,954 cases.

We are used to perceiving violence as physical harm, humiliation. But it turns out that violence is not so obvious. Today, modern society is increasingly faced with manifestations of the so-called hidden psychological violence, which is called stalking.

Stalking (translated from the English language “persecution”) is unwanted obsessive attention to one person by another person or even a group of people. Such excessive attention is regarded as a form of harassment and intimidation and is expressed in the pursuit of the victim, following her.

In society, the opinion has long been formed that, as a rule, famous people suffer more from this type of violence. But, in fact, it is not so. Back in 2011, American researchers from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention provided the first statistical data that about 15% of American women and almost 6% of American men had been stalked at least once. Among them, 54% of women and 48% of men became victims of stalking for the first time under the age of 25.

For data According to the Stalking Resource Center, to date, 13.5 million people in the United States have become victims of stalking, among whom 69% are women, 80% are men. People aged 18-24 experience the highest levels of stalking. 11% of victims suffered from stalking for more than 5 years.

As statistics show, stalkers are:

• acquaintances – 42%;
• sexual partners (former and current) – 40%;
• strangers -19%;
• random encounters – 8%;
• family members – 8%;
• representatives of the authorities – 4%.

In many countries, stalking has long been considered a crime and prosecuted by law. Unfortunately, statistics on stalking cases are not kept in Ukraine yet. But, obviously, this does not mean that this problem does not exist in our country. However, against the background of the growing number of cases of domestic violence, the Verkhovna Rada registered project Law 12088, according to which it is proposed to establish responsibility for such a type of psychological domestic violence as stalking, as well as its variant – cyberstalking.

Where did the threat come from?

Stalking, as a phenomenon of persecution, appeared long before the development of modern technologies. Its roots can be found in the behavior of people who showed obsessive interest in others, pursuing them in real life. However, the advent of technology and the Internet has significantly changed the dynamics of this phenomenon, turning it into a more complex and dangerous one – cyberstalking.

Stalking, in its traditional form, originated as a social behavior associated with the violation of another person’s personal boundaries. In most cases, this involved uncontrolled obsession — when one person showed excessive interest in another and did not stop even after clear refusals and requests to stop contact. Historical examples of stalking can be found in different cultures, especially in the cases of celebrities, royalty, or people of high status. For example, in the 19th century in Britain, there were cases when royal persons became objects of persecution by mentally ill fans.

However, at the beginning of the 20th century, the increase in the number of mass media and the availability of information about public figures led to an increase in such cases. It is known that in the 1980s, the harassment of celebrities in Hollywood became more frequent, which caused public concern. Cases related to the persecution of actors and musicians received wide publicity, and the persecutors began to act more aggressively, which sometimes led to tragic consequences.

With the advent of the Internet in the 1990s, stalking entered a new phase. People have begun to use technology to track and stalk others, creating a new form of psychological abuse—cyberstalking. The internet gave stalkers new opportunities: they could now collect information about victims without their knowledge, use social media to control and monitor people’s lives, and spread false information or threats anonymously.

One of the first cases that drew attention to cyberstalking was a trial in 1999 in the US, where a woman was the victim of a man who stalked her through e-mails and websites. This case became the impetus for the introduction of the first laws related to cyberstalking.

With the proliferation of social media in the early 2000s, cyberstalking became even more common. Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have made it possible for stalkers to securely and anonymously monitor the lives of victims, gaining access to their personal information.

The modern wave of stalking, in particular cyberstalking, is connected with the rapid development of technologies and social networks. Technologies allow not only to anonymize the stalker, but also to use programs to hack accounts, track the location of the victim or monitor their online activity.

In the early 2010s, cyberstalking became a global problem that went beyond private affairs. Cases of stalking began to be actively discussed in the media, in particular due to the fact that public figures increasingly became victims of cyber stalkers. However, later it became clear that not only celebrities suffer from stalking, but also ordinary people.

The history of stalking and cyberstalking shows that this phenomenon existed before the digital age, but technology has turned it into a global threat. Stalkers now have more tools to control and pressure their victims, making cyberstalking one of the most complex and dangerous forms of violence today. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness and implement effective measures to protect against this type of crime.

Reasons for stalking

Stalking and cyberbullying are associated with various mental disorders and social factors. Stalkers often have obsessive or paranoid personality traits. At the same time, cyberspace creates an illusion of safety for stalkers, because they can act anonymously and remain invisible. Technology gives stalkers a wide array of tools, from smartphone tracking apps to fake accounts that allow them to gather information about a victim. Stalkers can also use photos, videos and even GPS data that the victim makes publicly available for further intimidation or manipulation. The psychological impact of stalking is huge. Victims live in constant fear that their lives are being controlled. They begin to be afraid to go out, communicate with other people, and eventually become completely isolated. Cyberbullying often leads to serious mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and even suicidal thoughts.

One of the scariest features of cyberstalking is that it knows no geographic boundaries. Where previously a stalker could only follow a victim physically, now he can know their location, habits and even personal relationships thanks to social networks and the geolocation functions of smartphones. One post is enough for a person to know about your location. Imagine hundreds of thousands of stalkers who can gain access to your life with a single click. And what’s worse, most of them remain unpunished.

In most countries, legislation on cyberstalking is not sufficiently developed or difficult to implement. Stalkers can operate anonymously using VPNs and fake accounts, making it much harder to identify them. Even when a criminal is caught, the process of bringing him to justice is long and often ineffective. In many cases, victims feel that law enforcement agencies do not take their complaints seriously.

Experience of foreign countries in countering stalking and cyber-harassment

In foreign countries, the experience of combating stalking and cyber-harassment has been developing for many years, and some of them have achieved significant success in combating this problem. Different countries take different approaches, from legislative changes to technological innovation and victim support.

In the United States, the fight against stalking began in the 1990s, when the first laws were passed to protect victims of stalking. One of the key milestones was the adoption of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which provides support for victims of cyberbullying and provides resources for their protection.

US law allows victims to obtain restraining orders even in cases of cyberstalking. Breach of such an order is a serious offense and the harasser may be prosecuted, including imprisonment.

Many states also have specialized police units that investigate cases of cyberstalking and conduct public awareness campaigns to protect themselves from stalkers.

In the UK, the fight against stalking is regulated by the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, which was later expanded to include cyberstalking. Additional legislation was passed in 2012 making cyberstalking a criminal offense punishable by heavy fines and imprisonment.

In addition to legislative measures, there are organizations in the UK such as the National Stalking Helpline, which provide free advice to victims and help them get legal support.

In Australia, the fight against stalking is carried out both at the legislative level and through educational programs. The country has the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007, which prohibits any form of harassment, including cyberstalking. Australia is also actively working to raise awareness among young people through campaigns such as the eSafety Commission, which educates citizens to protect their personal data and detect cybercrime. This commission also proposes mechanisms to quickly respond to cases of online harassment, including the removal of harmful content and the blocking of perpetrators.

In Canada, there is a complex legislation that regulates the issue of cyberstalking — from the “Criminal Code”, which includes the concept of cyberstalking, to specialized initiatives aimed at protecting children and women from Internet criminals. In addition, Canadian police actively use technology to track and apprehend stalkers. For example, Canadian police work with social networks and online platforms to identify and block accounts of cyberstalkers.

Sweden has one of the strictest anti-stalking laws in Europe. The Law on Stalking (2011:900) allows cyber stalkers to be prosecuted for repeated acts of stalking, even if they occur exclusively online. Sweden also pays great attention to the protection of privacy and personal data of citizens. The state provides victims of cyberbullying with free legal support, including lawyers and psychologists specializing in cybercrime issues.

Each country tackles stalking and cyberbullying in its own way, but all of these efforts highlight the need for legislative reforms, technological support, and increased public awareness. Although the scope of the problem remains large, the experience of countries that are already actively combating cyberstalking offers hope for creating a safer digital space.

How to protect yourself from stalking

For those who feel they have become a victim of cyberbullying, there are several important steps to take. First, save all evidence of harassment—screenshots of messages, emails, and other evidence that may be used during an investigation. Second, be careful on social media: limit access to your profile, don’t post personal information or your real-time geolocation. And finally, contact law enforcement agencies or specialized organizations that deal with helping victims of cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying is not just a temporary inconvenience. This can become a long-term psychological trauma that undermines faith in oneself and the world around. Our security in the digital world depends not only on laws and technology, but also on our awareness and willingness to protect ourselves.

Stalking and cyberbullying is not just a temporary discomfort, it is a merciless terror that destroys life from the inside. Victims remain trapped in fear even when the monitor is turned off and the phone is silent. There is no safe place for them – every click, every message can be a new wave of anxiety. So what to do when the terrorizer is invisible and the technologies we’ve created for convenience become weapons?

This terrible phenomenon is not just a problem of individuals, it is a global crisis that threatens basic trust in modern technology. And if society doesn’t act now, tomorrow each of us could find ourselves in this merciless captivity, where the stalker is always one step ahead.