An introduction to the Clearinghouse project, including: a statistical view of cyberstalking in Canada; and common victim and offender characteristics; the common ways of resolving harassment; a view of our objectives and goals; and specific features the final Clearinghouse web site will possess.

1. Research Education Self-Help Referral
National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance Canada
Nov. 25, 2010

2. )
Randy McCall
President, Victim Assistance Online
Project Manager
Canadian Clearinghouse on Cyberstalking
Webmaster and Internet consultant:
• Police Victim Services of British Columbia
• World Society of Victimology

3. ¥
Objective:
To create a bilingual web-based Canadian information and referral
resource, through which to provide information and assistance for adultresource, through which to provide information and assistance for adult
victims of online criminal harassment – as defined by the Criminal Code
of Canada – commonly known as cyberstalking

4. )
Goals:
Create a clearinghouse for news, information and research useful to
professionals working with adult cyberstalking victims, in the form ofprofessionals working with adult cyberstalking victims, in the form of
a searchable database linking to publicly available materials
Create public education materials on the crime of cyberstalking
Create a self-help resource for victims of cyberstalking
Create a reference or referral system to connect victims with
assisting agencies, institutions or organizations

5. +
Who is producing the Clearinghouse project?
Canadian Resource Centre for
Victims of Crime
Victim Assistance Online
http://www.vaonline.org/Victims of Crime
http://www.crcvc.ca/
http://www.vaonline.org/
Victim’s Fund, Department of Justice
http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/pcvi-
cpcv/proj.html

6. +
Defining Terminology
Criminal Harassment
"No person shall … engage in conduct ... that"No person shall … engage in conduct ... that
causes that other person reasonably … to fear
for their safety or the safety of anyone known
to them”
Criminal Harassment §264

7. +
Defining Terminology
“…When the Internet, cell phones or other
Cyberbullying
“…When the Internet, cell phones or other
devices are used to send or post text or images
intended to hurt or embarrass another
person.“
US National Crime Prevention Council

8. +
Defining Terminology
Cyberstalking
Ongoing criminal harassment via electronicOngoing criminal harassment via electronic
networks which creates a reasonable fear for
life or safety of person

9. +
How serious is cyberstalking in Canada?
In 2009, 80% of Canadians aged 16 and older,
or 21.7 million people, used the Internet for
personal reasons, up from 73% in 2007 when
the survey was last conducted.the survey was last conducted.
Canadian Internet Use Survey, Statscan, 2010

10. 
How serious is cyberstalking in Canada?
34,108,800 population of Canada, 2010
As no statistics on cyberstalking in Canada are
available, we will approximate using statistics from
a country with similar culture, technology and
Stalking Victims = 13.9 per 1000 of general pop.
25% of these suffered some form of cyberstalking
Of the cyberstalked group, 5% reported the use of
electronic monitoring
Of those monitored, 45% reported malware or
hacking, and 9.7% reported being tracked by GPS
a country with similar culture, technology and
Internet penetration: USA Stalking Report 2009

11. )
How serious is cyberstalking in Canada?
34,108,800 population of Canada
By using our population, but applying statistics from
the Special Report, we get rough approximations of
potential levels of electronic harassment in Canada
474,112 victims of stalking in any 12 month period
118,528 potential Canadian victims
5926 potential Canadian electronic monitoring
victims
2667 malware and 574 GPS tracking potential victims
potential levels of electronic harassment in Canada

12. )
Literature review: cases constituting criminal cyberstalking?
( Bernard Reyns, 2010)
118,525 potential victims of cyberstalking
%ofstudiedgroupsconsideredfitting
criteriaofcriminal
%ofstudiedgroupsconsideredfitting
criteriaofcriminalcyberstalking

13. )
Do these cases constitute cyberstalking?
118,525 potential Canadian victims of electronic harassment
Results of studies which used the most and least stringent test for a case to be
considered criminal, and average of results of the studies. Applying these to
the approximated number of Canadian being harassed online gives:
3.7% of sample (most stringent definition)
7.2% of sample (2nd most stringent)
20% average of samples
31% of sample (loosest definition)
the approximated number of Canadian being harassed online gives:

14. )
Do these cases constitute cyberstalking?
118,525 potential Canadian victims of electronic harassment
The number of cases in any 12 month period which, statistically, could fall
within the legal definition of criminal cyberstalking in Canada; incidents which
cause fear of life or safety.
4386 victims of cyberstalking
8534 victims of cyberstalking
23,705 victims of cyberstalking
36,744 victims of cyberstalking
cause fear of life or safety.

15. )
Who is being cyberstalked?
Working to Halt Online Abuse: WHO@ http://www.haltabuse.org/
2009 Victimization Statistics, most common victim type:2009 Victimization Statistics, most common victim type:
Female (78%)
18-30 years old (34%) | 31-40 (30%) | 41+ (32%)
Caucasian (69.5%)
Single (43%) or of unknown status (34%).

16. )
Who is being cyberstalked?
Working to Halt Online Abuse: WHO@ http://www.haltabuse.org/
2009 Offender Statistics, most common features:2009 Offender Statistics, most common features:
Male (48%)
Previous connection with victim (64%)
No previous connection (29%)
Offender located outside victim’s
region/country (64%)

17. 
Who is being cyberstalked?
Working to Halt Online Abuse: WHO@ http://www.haltabuse.org/
2009 Progression of cases:2009 Progression of cases:
Escalation (66%)
Threats to life or safety (16.5%)
E-mail and web forums were the most common mediums
72% reported offence to some authority before contact WHO@

18. )
Who is being cyberstalked?
Working to Halt Online Abuse: WHO@ http://www.haltabuse.org/
2009 Resolution of cases, in order of effectiveness:2009 Resolution of cases, in order of effectiveness:
• Victim changed e-mail address, ISP, username and/or password
• Reported incident to stalker’s ISP(s)
• Victim was referred to law enforcement
• Reported case to web site host / owner
• Reported case to MySpace
• Reported incident to moderator
• Reported to social networking or specialty site
• Referred victim to lawyer
Note that victims could take most actions themselves, if they knew how

19. )
Canadian cyberstalking assistance
Organizations for Canadian cyberstalking victims: 0
Canadian websites specifically on cyberstalking : 0
• Crime victim service sites
• Domestic violence agencies
• Internet Service Providers
• Internet information services
Nature of Canadian sites with cyberstalking information
• Law enforcement agencies
• Privacy organizations
• Sexual assault crisis agencies
• Victims rights advocacy organizations
Information presented tended to reference prevention. Little on what to do once
electronic harassment had begun, with exception of reporting threats to police

20. )
Canadian cyberstalking assistance
• CyberAngels
Most common cyberstalking links on Canadian sites
• CyberAngels
• Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)
• National Center for Victims of Crime Stalking Resource Center
• National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV)
• Online Privacy Alliance
• Wired Safety Cyber911 Emergency
• Working to Halt Online Abuse (WHOA)
Where Canadian sites posted links to assisting organizations, said organizations were
mostly located in – and/or focused on – the USA.

21. ̹嘠
Lessons Learned
There is a need for a Canadian cyberstalking
information and referral service
There is a need for professional resources, for
That cyberstalking ignores borders, so national and international connections
with ISPs, law enforcement, government and direct service agencies are needed
With proper information, victims can stop simple harassment before it
reaches the level of a criminal offence, and – in more serious cases – help
gather evidence to show a pattern of electronic harassment
Where fear for life or safety is created, victims must report to police. They may
be more comfortable in doing so if they understand police and court processes
There is a need for professional resources, for
assisting victims, research, or case resolution

22. ̻
Cyberstalking is entering the public awareness

23. ̻
Elements of the Canadian Clearinghouse on Cyberstalking
Research Library
Public Education
Self-Help
Referral
Networking

24. ̻窰
Elements of the Canadian Clearinghouse on Cyberstalking
Research Library: News, information, research article database
Public Education: What is cyberstalking, what are its effects?
Self-Help: Factual information: stopping harassers,
evidence collection, criminal justice process
Referral: Criteria-based referral to assisting agencies
Networking: Multi-disciplinary, international connections
promoting: news and information exchange,
best practices, synergistic effects, co-education,
and input on Clearinghouse development

25. ሀϻ
Elements of the Canadian Clearinghouse on Cyberstalking
Canadian Clearinghouse on
Cyberstalking Professionals Listserv
Presently our major medium for networking is the
CCC Professionals listserv; an international e-mail
discussion list for all professionals in fields
working with, solving cases for, dealing with
legislation about, or directly assisting victims of
cyberstalking
For information on the listserv, contact us at:
info@cyberstalking.ca

26. ̻
Contact Us
Randy McCall, Project Manager
info@cyberstalking.ca | info@cyber-harcelement.cainfo@cyberstalking.ca | info@cyber-harcelement.ca
http://www.vaonline.org/
info@vaonline.org
Skype: randy.mccall
SkypeIn: (202) 657 5507