Katherine Clark: “Every day, millions of Americans use the internet to enrich their lives, engage with their communities, and do their…”

“Every day, millions of Americans use the internet to enrich their lives, engage with their communities, and do their jobs. While most online interactions are positive, the sad reality is that for far too many Americans having an online presence means being subjected to harassment, stalking, sextortion, and sexual abuse. In recent years, the internet has become an easy way for abusers to stalk victims of domestic violence and prey on vulnerable children. These crimes aren't just one-off occurrences, they are not just virtual. They can destroy lives. One of my constituents received an onslaught of rape and death threats so horrific and explicit that she and her husband fled their home and eventually moved because they feared for their lives. Unfortunately, when she reported these threats to law enforcement, the officers she worked with did not have the training or the resources necessary to fully investigate this crime and bring the perpetrators to justice. And this is just one story. In fact, 20 percent, one in five, of all adult internet users have been affected by cyberstalking, persistent harassing emails or other unwanted online contact. One increasingly common form of online abuse involves perpetrators threatening to expose private or sensitive material, including nude images, unless victims produce sexual materials or pay the abuser money. The Department of Justice recently declared that this type of abuse, known as sextortion, ``. . .…”