Poll: Most support stronger online harassment laws

Sixty-six percent of people support stronger laws against online harassment, according to an online poll released Thursday. 

The poll commissioned by Lincoln Park Strategies and Rad Campaign also found a nearly equal amount of people would support Internet service providers and social networks taking strict action against online harassment. Sixty-six percent also believe law enforcement should dedicate more resources to finding harassers online. 

The poll did not ask about specific proposals to change the law. 

{mosads}The survey was conducted with the recent leak of hundreds of intimate photos of celebrities online. Nude photos of dozens of celebrities — including Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton — began circulating in September after their individual Apple iCloud accounts were breached.

Seventy-five percent said hacking into someone’s personal account and posting revealing pictures is a form of online harassment. Another 17 percent said it is not, while 8 percent were not sure. 

While large majorities of every demographic found the leaks to be a form of harassment, that sentiment was highest with women and those under 45 years of age. 

The poll surveyed 1,000 likely voters in early October and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.