Tackling Online Harassment

Guest: Danielle Citron, JD, Professor of Law, University of Maryland, author of “Hate Crimes in Cyberspace” The internet can be a rough place. You’ve seen the ugliness that comes out in arguments on Facebook or Twitter, or in the comments section of an online news site. For a long time, police, policy makers and everyday people have taken the view that if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the fire. Don’t venture online unless you have a thick skin. Online threats aren’t fun, but they’re just words and well, sticks and stones ...  But in the last couples of years, we’ve seen a growing number of states enacting laws aimed at the ugliest forms of online harassment. And we’ve seen victims coming forward, telling how the violent threats, explicit photos and rampant lies spread about them in online forums have caused serious damage.