Violent victimization in cyberspace: an analysis of place, conduct, perception, and law.

The anonymity, affordability, and accessibility of the Internet can shelter individuals who perpetrate violent acts online. In Canada, some of these acts are prosecuted under existing criminal law statutes (e.g., cyber-stalking, under harassment, s. 264, and cyber-bullying, under intimidation, s. 423[1]). However, it is unclear whether victims of other online behaviours such as cyber-rape and organized griefing have any established legal recourse. Examples of virtual violence in social networking sites, immersive games, and metaverses are critically examined against the backdrop of cyberspace as place, psychology of the constructed persona, and violations of trust online. These examples are then discussed with reference to current criminological theory and relevant Canadian and American legislation.