Cyber stalking victims ‘let down’

The findings are the culmination of a two year study by the National Centre for Cyber-stalking Research (NCCR) which is based at the university’s Park Square campus in Luton.

Run in conjunction with the charity Network for Surviving Stalking, the research shows that three in ten cyber-stalking victims feel let down by their service providers.

And with the News of The World phone-hacking scandal dominating the news agenda, NCCR co-director Dr Emma Short says mobile phone companies must do more to ensure their users’ privacy.

She said: “Phone hacking is a classic example of the relaxed approach to technology security which makes mobile phone users and social networkers vulnerable.

“Where our use of such technologies is still in its infant stage, moral boundaries have yet to be established, meaning users’ privacy is far more likely to be encroached than it might in the physical world.”

The study focused predominantly on cases of cyber bullying and the effects it can have on the victim.

More than 350 people took part in the survey and nearly half of all victims reported giving up social activities as a result of cyber bullying, while almost 20 per cent said it had caused their relationship to break down.

The NCCR was set up to address the need for research and analysis of this increased threat to individuals and society. Professor Carsten Maple, who led the project with Dr Short, added: “Clearly victims feel there is more that could be done by those providing services.

“Currently victims cannot get a mobile phone operator to ban calls or texts from a specified telephone number; if the abuse happened on a landline, providers would certainly bar the number.

“Equally, methods for reporting behaviour and subsequent action against perpetrators through social networking sites and internet forums are felt to be inadequate.”