Cyberstalking — persistent, unwanted online contact, monitoring or tracking of a person — is a distinct pattern from a single instance of harassment, and the law treats sustained, targeted conduct seriously.
What it looks like
- Repeated unwanted messages or contact across multiple platforms after being asked to stop
- Monitoring a person’s online activity or location without consent
- Creating fake accounts to continue contact after being blocked
- Threats made online, whether explicit or implied
The legal route
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 addresses offences relating to unauthorised access, and offences against the dignity and privacy of a natural person, which can extend to sustained cyberstalking conduct depending on its specific nature. Where threats are made, provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code relating to criminal intimidation may also apply.
Evidence for a sustained pattern
Because cyberstalking is defined by its pattern rather than a single act, keeping a dated log of every instance — not just the worst ones — is what demonstrates the pattern to an investigator or a court.
What to do next
Keep a dated record of every instance of contact or monitoring, preserve the platform evidence for each, and report the pattern as a whole rather than isolated incidents.