{"data":{"id":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-61-3c-14c","jurisdiction":"us-wv","citation":"W. Va. Code § 61-3C-14c","heading":"Cyberbullying or specific acts of electronic harassment of minors; definitions; penalties; exceptions.","body":"(a) It is unlawful for a person to knowingly and intentionally use a computer or computer network, as defined in §61-3C-3, to engage in conduct with the intent to harass, intimidate, or bully a minor, including, but not limited to:\n(1) Posting, disseminating or encouraging others to post or disseminate private, personal, or sexual information pertaining to a minor on the Internet; or\n(2) Posting obscene material, as defined in §61-3C-14a of this code, in a real or doctored image of a minor on the Internet;\n(b) For the purposes of this section:\n(1) “Harass, intimidate or bully” means any intentional gesture, or any intentional electronic, written, verbal, or physical act, communication, transmission or threat that:\n(A) A reasonable person under the circumstances should know the act will have the effect of any one or more of the following:\n(i) Physically harming a minor;\n(ii) Damaging a minor’s property;\n(iii) Placing a minor in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person; or\n(iv) Placing a minor in reasonable fear of damage to his or her property; or\n(B) Is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or emotionally abusive environment for a minor.\n(2) “Minor” means an individual under the age of 18 years old.\n(c) This section does not apply to a peaceful activity intended to:\n(i) Express a political view; or\n(ii) Provide information to others with no intent to harass, intimidate, or bully.\n(d) Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $500 or confined in jail for a period not to exceed one year, or both confined and fined.","path":["CHAPTER 61. CRIMES AND THEIR PUNISHMENT.","ARTICLE 3C. WEST VIRGINIA COMPUTER CRIME AND ABUSE ACT."],"source_url":"https://code.wvlegislature.gov/61-3C-14C/","current_through":"as of 2026-08-03; contains at least the enactments of the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T00:31:23Z","sha256":"8c8b86f018e4206ac2503be404b32e9b313d2d45896902246b706878749a1f6f","source_id":"us-wv","stale":true,"prev":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-61-3c-14b","next":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-61-3c-14d"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}