Arizona statute
A.R.S. § 13-2916 — Use of an electronic communication to terrify, intimidate, threaten or harass; unlawful use of electronic communication device; applicability; classification; definitions
Current through 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)
Part of Chapter 29: Offenses Against Public Order, Arizona Revised Statutes.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of A.R.S. § 13-2916
Statutory text current through the 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025). This publication reproduces the official statutory text published by the Arizona Legislature (Arizona Legislative Council compilation, azleg.gov); it is not the official statutes of the State of Arizona.
A. It is unlawful for a person to knowingly terrify, intimidate, threaten or harass a specific person or persons by doing any of the following:
1. Directing any obscene, lewd or profane language or suggesting any lewd or lascivious act to the person in an electronic communication.
2. Threatening to inflict physical harm on any person or to property in any electronic communication.
3. Otherwise disturbing by repeated anonymous, unwanted or unsolicited electronic communications the peace, quiet or right of privacy of the person at the place where the communications were received.
4. Without the person's consent and for the purpose of imminently causing the person unwanted physical contact, injury or harassment by a third party, use an electronic communication device to electronically distribute, publish, email, hyperlink or make available for downloading the person's personal identifying information, including a digital image of the person, and the use does in fact incite or produce that unwanted physical contact, injury or harassment. This paragraph also applies to a person who intends to terrify, intimidate, threaten or harass an immediate family member of the person whose personal identifying information is used.
B. Any offense committed by use of an electronic communication in violation of this section is deemed to have been committed at either the place where the communications originated or at the place where the communications were received.
C. This section does not apply to:
1. Constitutionally protected speech or activity or to any other activity authorized by law.
2. An interactive computer service, as defined in 47 United States Code section 230(f)(2), or to an information service or telecommunications service, as defined in 47 United States Code section 153, for content that is provided by another person.
D. A person who violates this section is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.
E. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Electronic communication" means a social media post, a wire line, cable, wireless or cellular telephone call, a text message, an instant message or electronic mail.
2. "Electronic communication device" includes a telephone, mobile telephone, computer, internet website, internet telephone, hybrid cellular, internet or wireless device, personal digital assistant, video recorder, fax machine or pager.
3. "Harassment" means a knowing and wilful course of conduct that is directed at a specific person, that a reasonable person would consider as seriously alarming, seriously disruptive, seriously tormenting or seriously terrorizing the person and that serves no legitimate purpose.
4. "Personal identifying information":
(a) Means information that would allow the identified person to be located, contacted or harassed.
(b) Includes the person's home address, work address, phone number, email address or other contact information that would allow the identified person to be located, contacted or harassed.
5. "Social media post" means a social media communication that is knowingly intended to communicate to a specific person or persons in violation of subsection A of this section.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is use of an electronic communication to terrify, intimidate, threaten or harass a felony or a misdemeanor in Arizona?
Use of an electronic communication to terrify, intimidate, threaten or harass is a Class 1 Misdemeanor in Arizona under A.R.S. § 13-2916.
Which Arizona statute covers use of an electronic communication to terrify, intimidate, threaten or harass?
Use of an electronic communication to terrify, intimidate, threaten or harass is governed by A.R.S. § 13-2916 (Use of an electronic communication to terrify, intimidate, threaten or harass; unlawful use of electronic communication device; applicability; classification; definitions).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.