Foundation Conducts Survey on Cyberstalking|調查:16-24歲族群 1/5曾遇科技跟蹤

The Modern Women's Foundation recently conducted a survey of young people aged between 16 and 24 and found that one out of five has suffered from online harassment and cyberstalking. Sixty percent of cyberstalkers use Facebook, LINE and other social media platforms to harass their victims and spread rumors.


Many people use social media and instant messaging platforms to chat and stay in touch with friends. A recent survey conducted by the Modern Women's Foundation of young people between the ages of 16 and 24 discovered that 6.49 percent have been cyberstalked, while 12.2 percent believe they have been cyberstalked. The majority of the victims were high school students at 70 percent, while the majority of cyberstalkers were strangers. Over 60 percent use Facebook, LINE and types of software for cyberstalking.

Instant communications tools are now widely used, and there have been many victims. The stalking methods that are employed differ from traditional stalking methods in that the victims may not take notice, so in the end the perpetrators become more aggressive and may even steal (their victims') accounts.

The survey also showed cyberstalking can result in the spread of information that makes people uncomfortable, and even rumors. Cyberstalkers also steal accounts. As for victims, 61.5 percent ignore their cyberstalkers, while 50 percent seek assistance or make their accounts private. Victims can use the Civil Code, Sexual Harassment Prevention Act and Social Order Maintenance Act to fight back. However, scholars say current laws are not enough to deter this type of behavior.

(For example) the scope of the Social Order Maintenance Act is extremely narrow. It simply cannot be applicable to the cyberstalking and online harassment cases occurring in today's society. We hope our laws can keep up with these developments.

Scholars say the legislature passed the first reading of an anti-stalking draft bill in May, and it should incorporate the definition of cyberstalking and online harassment as well as stipulate measures such as establishing limits on certain electronic communications, deleting shared images or text, strengthening preventative measures and protecting victims.