Cyber Crimes Against Women Need Prioritizing

Lawmakers and the justice system needs to begin prioritizing investigations and prosecutions of cyber abuse crimes targeting women.

While protections against violent online threats already exist, reportedly, enforcement is drastically lagging across the country.

It is estimated that 2.5 million cases of cyber-stalking that occurred in the US between 2010 and 2013, federal prosecutors pursued only 10 cases.

This is not just an Internet issue, woman are being targeted with violent threats online, creating fear for their safety and the ability to fully participate in the economy is jeopardize.

A Pew Research Center study indicated that 73 percent of adult Internet users have witnessed online harassment, and 25 percent have seen someone threatened with physical violence.

Another study by the University of Maryland reported that women receive sexually explicit or threatening messages 27 times more often than men.

The Review agrees with Congresswoman Katherine Clark, who is calling on the Department of Justice to begin prioritizing investigations and prosecutions to keep the Internet open for everyone.

This is not just an Internet issue, it has gone beyond that.