The Online Harassment & Defamation Playbook

Protect Yourself. Take Action. Stop the Harassers.

Last updated: November 16, 2024.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This Is Not Legal Advice

This guide is for educational purposes and provides general information collected to help victims of cyberbullying. While we've researched the content thoroughly, laws vary by location and each case is unique. If you're experiencing cyberbullying, harassment, or defamation, please consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.

📌 Introduction

Online harassment and false accusations can ruin reputations, careers, and mental health. Many victims are told to "just ignore it" – but silence is exactly what harassers want. When we stay quiet, we don't just suffer alone – we empower harassers to continue their attacks and target new victims without consequences.

🚨 This stops now. This playbook is your guide to fighting back.

You'll learn how to:

✔ Collect evidence & report harassment
✔ Hold social media platforms accountable
✔ Use legal action (restraining orders, defamation lawsuits, police reports)
✔ Protect yourself & push back against harassers

Let's take back control.

💡 Harassment is a crime. If someone is targeting you online, this is not just "drama"—it is a legal offense, and you have the right to take action.

🚨 1. Criminal Harassment (NY Penal Law § 240.30)

Criminal harassment occurs when someone intentionally harasses, threatens, or causes distress through repeated communication.

🚔 This is Criminal Harassment if the harasser:

✅ Posts harmful content about you repeatedly, even after being blocked
✅ Uses social media to alarm, threaten, or intimidate you
✅ Encourages others to join in harassing or attacking you online
✅ Mentions your child or family members to harass or threaten you
➡ If you feel distressed, afraid, or targeted, this is criminal harassment.

📌 2. Cyberstalking & Doxxing (NY Penal Law § 120.45 – Stalking)

Cyberstalking is when someone repeatedly tracks, monitors, or posts about you online, causing emotional distress. Doxxing is when someone reveals private personal information without consent.

✅ Reposts your private content or personal details without permission
✅ Tracks your online activity even after being blocked
✅ Shares your real name, address, phone number, or workplace
✅ Encourages others to harass, spam, or attack you online
➡ Cyberstalking and doxxing are serious crimes.

📌 3. Defamation (False Accusations That Damage Reputation)

Defamation occurs when someone spreads false statements about you that damage your reputation.

Types of Defamation:

• Libel = Written defamation (social media posts, blogs, Facebook Live)
• Slander = Spoken defamation (videos, livestreams, public speeches)

This is Defamation if the harasser:

✅ Falsely accuses you of a crime or serious wrongdoing
✅ Spreads damaging lies about you online
✅ Posts misleading or altered images/videos to misrepresent you
✅ Shares false information about your family or friends
➡ If these false statements harm your job, finances, relationships, or social standing, you may have a defamation case.

📌 4. Child Endangerment & Online Harassment Involving Children

NY Penal Law § 260.10 applies when someone threatens, harasses, or exposes a child to harm online, even indirectly.

🚔 This is Child Endangerment if the harasser:

✅ Mentions your child, even indirectly (e.g., "her son" or "their child")
✅ Makes hypothetical threats (e.g., "imagine if something happened to her daughter")
✅ Posts false allegations about your child (e.g., claiming abuse or neglect)
✅ Uses your child to threaten or harass you (e.g., "what if your son found out...")
✅ Reveals or threatens to reveal your child's details (name, school, photos)
✅ Makes suggestive or threatening implications about your child's safety

➡ This is extremely serious - even indirect or hypothetical threats involving children must be reported immediately.

💡 Before filing a police report or taking legal action, you need strong evidence. Harassers often delete their posts once they realize they could face consequences.

📌 1. Take Screenshots

Screenshots preserve evidence even if content is deleted later.

How to Take Screenshots:

• iPhone → Press Power + Volume Up
• Android → Press Power + Volume Down
• Windows → Use Snipping Tool
• Mac → Press Command + Shift + 4

📌 2. Save URLs & Timestamps

For each piece of evidence, save:

✅ Direct URL to the post/video
✅ Exact time when harassing content appeared
✅ Download full videos before deletion
✅ Record livestreams in real-time if possible

📌 3. Document Emotional & Financial Harm

Write down everything, keep detailed records of how harassment affected you:

✅ Emotional harm (anxiety, stress, fear, couldn't sleep, had panic attacks, felt unsafe in public)
✅ Financial losses (missed work, lost focus, lost clients/customers, avoided social interactions)
✅ Social impact (damaged relationships, friends distanced themselves, family relationships deteriorated)
✅ Physical Symptoms (stress headaches, loss of appetite, nausea)

💡 Example Documentation Entry:

"On February 1st, I saw the defamatory post about me. Since then, I have suffered from severe anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and have avoided public places out of fear. I have had multiple panic attacks, and I have started taking medication for anxiety as a result of this harassment."

📌 Supporting Evidence for Emotional Harm:

• Medical Records – If you sought therapy or treatment due to harassment
• Texts or Messages – If you discussed your distress with friends or family

💰 Financial Impact Documentation:

Log all financial losses, including:

• Lost work hours/pay – If you missed work due to stress or legal meetings
• Business damage – If customers or clients stopped working with you
• Job termination – If your employer found out about false allegations
• Legal fees – If you needed a lawyer for defamation or harassment

💡 Example Financial Loss Entry:

"I missed 5 days of work due to emotional distress, costing me $1,200 in lost wages. I also lost two freelance clients who saw the false allegations online, resulting in an additional loss of $3,000 in income."

📌 Supporting Evidence for Financial Harm:

• Employer letters or HR emails confirming missed work
• Bank statements showing lost income or legal expenses
• Client emails confirming they stopped working with you due to false claims

💡 Reporting online harassment is the fastest way to get harmful content removed. Most social media platforms have built-in reporting tools, but if those don't work, you can escalate directly to their legal teams. Remember to save email receipts, screenshots etc. to document that you reported to the social media platform. You will need this later.

📌 1. Report Using Built-in Social Media Tools

Before escalating, first try the built-in report feature on the platform. This is the easiest way to get harmful posts removed.

🚀 How to Report on Facebook

For Posts & Videos:

✔ Click the "⋮" (three dots) menu on the post or video
✔ Select "Report post" or "Report video"
✔ Choose "Harassment" or "Hate speech" as the reason
✔ Follow the prompts and submit

For Comments:

✔ Hover over the comment and click the "⋮" menu
✔ Click "Give feedback or report this comment"
✔ Select "Harassment" and submit

📌 Facebook will notify you if they remove the content.

🚀 How to Report on YouTube

For Videos:

✔ Click the "⋮" menu below the video
✔ Click "Report"
✔ Select "Hateful or abusive content" → "Harassment or cyberbullying"
✔ Add extra details and submit

For Comments:

✔ Click the "⋮" menu next to the comment
✔ Click "Report" and choose "Harassment or bullying"

📌 2. Official Reporting Links

Facebook Reports:

🔹 Harassment: facebook.com/help/contact/274459462613911
🔹 Privacy Violations: facebook.com/help/contact/144059062408922

YouTube Reports:

🔹 Harassment: support.google.com/youtube/answer/2802268
🔹 Privacy Violations: support.google.com/youtube/answer/142443

📌 3. Legal Team Escalation

🚨 If platforms don't take action, escalate to their legal departments:

Facebook (Meta) Legal:

🔹 Form: facebook.com/help/contact/268228883256323
🔹 Email: legal@fb.com
🔹 Address: Meta Platforms, Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025

YouTube/Google Legal:

🔹 Form: support.google.com/legal/troubleshooter/1114905
🔹 Address: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043

📌 4. What to Include in Legal Escalation

✔ Direct links to posts/videos
✔ Previous report case IDs
✔ Screenshots of harassment
✔ Police report (if filed)
✔ Demand for content removal

📌 Example Report Template

Subject: Urgent Harassment Report – [Harasser's Name]

Hello,

I am reporting ongoing cyber harassment by [Harasser's Name], whose Facebook profile is [Profile Link]. They have posted defamatory content about me on [Date] at [Time], visible at [Post Link].

This content includes false accusations and threats, causing significant emotional distress and reputational harm. I have already submitted reports through Facebook's platform, but no action has been taken.

Attached: Screenshots of harassment, police report, and report case ID.

Please take urgent action to remove the content and investigate this account for repeated violations of Facebook's harassment policies.

Thank you,
[Your Name]

📌 5. If Platforms Don't Respond

✅ File a police report and use it in complaints
✅ Have a lawyer send a formal legal notice
✅ Consider raising public awareness (if safe)
✅ Report to FTC if privacy laws are violated

📌 For child-related harassment, report to NCMEC: report.cybertip.org

💡 Filing a police report is a crucial step if you are being harassed, defamed, cyberstalked, or doxxed. This creates an official legal record and can help you obtain a restraining order, escalate to a prosecutor, or take legal action.

📌 1. Go to Your Local Police Station

🚨 File your report in person at the nearest police station. Most cities have officers trained in cybercrime cases.

✔ Check for a Cyber Crime Unit—dedicated teams exist for internet crimes
✔ Be calm and professional—officers respond better to organized reports
✔ Get a copy of the report—your proof of filing

📌 For New York Residents: Use the NY Police Precinct Finder

📌 2. What to Bring

Bring all evidence from Steps 2 and 3:

✅ Screenshots of harassment posts, messages, videos
✅ URLs & timestamps of incidents
✅ Downloaded videos showing harassment
✅ Documentation of emotional & financial harm
✅ Social media platform reports and responses
✅ Witness statements from observers

💡 Stronger evidence leads to more serious consideration by law enforcement.

📌 3. What to Say

Be clear, concise, and factual. Use these points:

"I am here to report online harassment, cyberstalking, and defamation"
"I've been targeted by [name/account] on [platform]"
"The content includes [false accusations/threats/personal info]"
"Platform reports haven't resolved the issue"
"This affects my mental health and reputation"
"I have evidence: screenshots, links, witness statements"

📌 4. If Police Dismiss the Case

✅ Insist on filing a report
✅ Request a cybercrime investigator/supervisor
✅ Document the interaction (officer name, date)
✅ Escalate to NYPD Cybercrime Division or DA's Office

🔹 Use NYC Cybercrime Reporting for escalation

📌 5. Using the Police Report

Your report can help with:

✔ Obtaining a restraining order (Order of Protection)
✔ Filing defamation/harassment lawsuits
✔ Escalating to prosecutors
✔ Strengthening platform complaints

Police actions may include:

✅ Warning/arresting the harasser
✅ Subpoenaing platform data
✅ Helping obtain protection orders

📌 1. Report to Social Media Platforms (First Step)

✔ Use the built-in report tools on Facebook, YouTube, and other platforms.
✔ Report directly to the platform’s legal team if no action is taken.
✔ Mention the international nature of the case—some platforms have global policies for cross-border cases.
✔ Request content removal under your country’s cybercrime or defamation laws.
✔ Save all report confirmations, case IDs, and responses for legal escalation.

📌 2. File a Police Complaint in Your Country

✔ File a report with your **local police first**—they can coordinate with **Interpol or other agencies**.
✔ **Mention that the harasser is in another country**—this may help escalate the case internationally.
✔ Request that authorities contact **cybercrime units** in both your country and the harasser’s country.
✔ **MLATs (Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties) exist between India, the USA, and European countries**—police can use these to exchange evidence and prosecute internationally.
✔ If threats, fraud, or major cybercrimes are involved, report to the **FBI's IC3 (if in the U.S.) or Interpol**.

📌 3. Escalate to Social Media’s Global Legal Teams

✔ If social media platforms do not act, escalate to their **legal departments**.
✔ **Facebook Legal Inquiry:** Submit a complaint.
✔ **YouTube Legal Request:** Report harassment.
✔ **Google Legal Support:** Submit a removal request.
✔ Mention **jurisdiction details**—legal teams prioritize cases tied to official law enforcement complaints.
✔ Keep **all communication records** with social media teams in case legal action is needed.

📌 Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs)

MLATs allow governments to request international legal assistance for cybercrime, harassment, and defamation cases.

✔ **USA & India MLAT:** Signed in 2001, allows cross-border evidence exchange and cybercrime prosecution.
✔ **USA & Europe MLAT:** The U.S. has MLAT agreements with most European countries, allowing legal cooperation on cybercrimes.
✔ **India & Europe MLATs:** India has agreements with the **UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, and others** to investigate cross-border harassment.
✔ **Interpol & Europol** also assist in cross-border cybercrime investigations.
✔ **Cybercrime victims can request police to escalate cases using MLAT agreements.**

📌 Key Resources for International Cases

🔹 **Interpol - National Central Bureau**
🔹 **FBI IC3 (U.S. Citizens Report Cybercrime)** - www.ic3.gov
🔹 **International Association of Cybercrime Prevention**
🔹 **UN Office on Drugs and Crime (Cybercrime Division)**

💡 Pro Tip:

International cases can take longer, but persistence is key. **Start with local authorities, escalate to social media’s legal teams, and explore international legal action if necessary.** Many countries have **Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs)** to enforce cybercrime laws across borders.

The Online Harassment & Defamation Playbook

⚠️ Disclaimer: This Is Not Legal Advice

📌 Introduction

🛑 Step 1: Identify the Type of Online Harassment

🚨 1. Criminal Harassment (NY Penal Law § 240.30)

📌 2. Cyberstalking & Doxxing (NY Penal Law § 120.45 – Stalking)

📌 3. Defamation (False Accusations That Damage Reputation)

📌 4. Child Endangerment & Online Harassment Involving Children

🛑 Step 2: Collect Evidence

📌 1. Take Screenshots

📌 2. Save URLs & Timestamps

📌 3. Document Emotional & Financial Harm

💡 Example Documentation Entry:

📌 Supporting Evidence for Emotional Harm:

💰 Financial Impact Documentation:

💡 Example Financial Loss Entry:

📌 Supporting Evidence for Financial Harm:

🛑 Step 3: Report to Social Media Platforms

📌 1. Report Using Built-in Social Media Tools

🚀 How to Report on Facebook

🚀 How to Report on YouTube

📌 2. Official Reporting Links

📌 3. Legal Team Escalation

Facebook (Meta) Legal:

YouTube/Google Legal:

📌 4. What to Include in Legal Escalation

📌 Example Report Template

📌 5. If Platforms Don't Respond

🛑 Step 4: Filing a Police Report

📌 1. Go to Your Local Police Station

📌 2. What to Bring

📌 3. What to Say

📌 4. If Police Dismiss the Case

📌 5. Using the Police Report

🛑 Step 5: Legal Action – Restraining Orders & Criminal Charges

📌 1. Restraining Order (Order of Protection)

📌 Types of Orders in NY

📌 Filing Process

📌 Criminal Charges

📌 Additional Legal Actions

🚨 If Order is Violated

📌 Legal Resources

🛑 Step 6: Consider a Defamation Lawsuit

🚨 Requirements to Win

📌 1. Proving Reputation Damage

📌 2. Proving Financial Harm

📌 3. Proving Emotional Distress

📌 4. Legal Process

🚨 If Defamation Continues

🛑 Step 7: Take Back Control

📌 Taking Action

📌 Self-Protection Guidelines

🚨 Final Message

📌 International Cases: What to Do If the Harasser and Victim Are in Different Countries

📌 1. Report to Social Media Platforms (First Step)

📌 2. File a Police Complaint in Your Country

📌 3. Escalate to Social Media’s Global Legal Teams

📌 Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs)

📌 Key Resources for International Cases