What constitutes Sexual Cyberharass?

What constitutes Sexual Cyberharass?

• A. Publishing a sexually explicit image of a person that contains or conveys the personal identification information to a website without that person's consent, for no legitimate purpose, with the intent of causing substantial emotional distress
• B. Providing consent to publish sexual image
• C. Publicly sharing a non-sexual image
• D. Sending a private message with a joke

Answer: (A)

Sexual cyberharassment is defined by the non-consensual publication of sexually explicit material involving someone on the internet, especially when personal identifying information is included and the action is intended to distress them. The described scenario fits all of these elements: it involves a sexually explicit image of a person published to a website without that person's consent, done for no legitimate purpose, with the stated aim of causing substantial emotional distress. The inclusion of personal identification information heightens the harm and shows a deliberate attempt to target the individual. This differs from other behaviors: giving consent to publish removes the non-consent element; publicly sharing a non-sexual image lacks the sexual content and the targeted harassment aspect; sending a private joke does not involve public dissemination of sexual material or the intent to cause distress.

Sexual cyberharassment is defined by the non-consensual publication of sexually explicit material involving someone on the internet, especially when personal identifying information is included and the action is intended to distress them. The described scenario fits all of these elements: it involves a sexually explicit image of a person published to a website without that person's consent, done for no legitimate purpose, with the stated aim of causing substantial emotional distress. The inclusion of personal identification information heightens the harm and shows a deliberate attempt to target the individual.

This differs from other behaviors: giving consent to publish removes the non-consent element; publicly sharing a non-sexual image lacks the sexual content and the targeted harassment aspect; sending a private joke does not involve public dissemination of sexual material or the intent to cause distress.