Hate Crimes in Cyberspace

Citron (Lois K. Macht Research Professor of Law, Univ. of Maryland) addresses a significant, timely topic in this impressively comprehensive, expertly researched book. Drawing upon leading legal and sociological works, the author explores the nature and consequences of cyber harassment and cyber stalking. Citron's approach is particularly effective because she introduces a series of actual cases in which victims' lives and livelihoods have been damaged by deliberate, malicious invasions of privacy over the Internet. In addressing legal remedies for digital hate attacks, Citron invokes lessons from the civil, women's, and employee rights movements. Moreover, she emphasizes ways in which victims can employ civil and criminal legal means of catching and punishing perpetrators of these crimes. Still, the law is dilatory in recognizing and addressing the challenges presented by digital hate; thus, law enforcement agencies and the courts have much to learn about protecting rights in the digital age.