Supreme Court Ruling Raises Concerns for Online Harassment Victims and Advocates

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that online harassment prosecutions must meet a higher standard, making it more difficult to convict individuals for stalking and threats made online. The court clarified that online messages must be made with conscious knowledge that they could be perceived as threats in order to be considered criminal. The ruling, which protects First Amendment rights, has raised concerns about the potential chilling effect on free speech and the ability of tech platforms to monitor and manage online content. Critics argue that the decision may silence victims and hinder efforts to combat cyberstalking.