Is it illegal to post a video of someone harassing you?

California undoubtedly holds some of the strongest and strictest law in the country regarding audio and video recording. To put simply – without consent of all parties present – the recording is not only inadmissible in court, but illegal and a crime to obtain which allows the injured party to sue for damages.

Can I press charges on someone for threatening me?

Depending on the state, a criminal threat can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony offense. While felony offenses are more serious than misdemeanors, either of them can result in incarceration, fines, and other penalties. Anyone convicted of making a criminal threat faces a substantial time in jail or prison.

What is considered an online threat?

The Crime of Making Criminal Threats Online Under California Penal Code Section 422, if you communicate a threat to another person that would result in them suffering great bodily injury or death, you could be charged with a crime for making a criminal threat.

Should you turn to law enforcement for help with online harassment?

These are by no means the only reasons you might wish to turn to law enforcement for help. Even if reporting online harassment to your local precinct doesn’t result in immediate action, at the very least, it will establish a paper trail that might be needed later on.

Where to report online harassment to the federal government?

It can feel intimidating and even potentially futile to report online harassment to the federal government, which is why reporting online harassment to your local precinct can be a good place to start.

What to do if someone is harassing you on a website?

Either the harassing party persists in their efforts, the website fails or refuses to take action, or the harassing party makes a threat that cannot be taken lightly (such as a threat of violence). In these cases, it may be necessary to contact law enforcement.

Why won’t the police respond to my harassment complaint?

Sometimes a local precinct has not been adequately trained to respond to cyberattacks—an area of policing that continues to evolve. Sometimes the police officer handling your case may be unfamiliar with the online platforms where the harassment occurred.