A person is stalking me online and tracking my location through my social media posts, is there a law against cyberstalking?
JA Asked by Jaya Lakshmi from India
Quick Answer
Cyberstalking is punishable under Section 354D of the Indian Penal Code, which makes stalking an offence punishable with up to three years imprisonment for first conviction, and under Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 for transmitting obscene or harassing content electronically.
Detailed Legal Analysis
Cyberstalking is punishable under Section 354D of the Indian Penal Code, which makes stalking an offence punishable with up to three years imprisonment for first conviction, and under Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 for transmitting obscene or harassing content electronically. The Supreme Court in Puttaswamy v.
Union of India (2017) recognised the right to privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21, which includes the right to be let alone and to control personal information. Report the stalker on the respective social media platform, set your accounts to private, disable location sharing, and avoid posting real-time location updates.
File an FIR at the nearest police station or cyber crime cell with screenshots of the stalking messages, repeated unwanted contact, and any evidence of location tracking. If the police do not act, approach the Magistrate under Section 200 CrPC for a direct complaint.
Legal Provisions Referenced
Verify the current statutory text at India Code (the official repository of Indian legislation) or the Legislative Department. This answer is general legal information, not advice on your specific matter.
Disclaimer: AI-generated for educational purposes only. Does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.