720 ILCS 5/26.5-3 – Harassment Through Electronic Communications
This law makes it illegal to use electronic devices to bother, threaten, or scare someone on purpose.
This Illinois law says people can’t use phones, computers, or other electronic devices to upset, threaten, or stop others from using their own devices. It explains what counts as harassment and who is responsible.
(a) A person commits harassment through electronic communications when he or she uses electronic communication for any of these reasons:
- Sending or saying something rude or obscene on purpose to offend someone.
- Purposely interrupting or messing with another person’s phone or electronic service to annoy them.
- Sending files, messages, or anything else to someone with the goal of harassing them, even if they don’t open or read it, and it keeps them from using their phone or device properly.
- Sending or getting someone to send electronic messages to pick on or annoy a child under 13 years old, if the person doing it is at least 16 years old, even if the younger child says it’s okay.
- Using electronic messages to threaten to hurt someone, their property, or a family or household member.
- Letting someone use your phone or device on purpose to do any of the bad things listed above.
(b) Internet, phone, and mobile service companies are not responsible for these bad acts unless they do something wrong on purpose or act with extreme carelessness.
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