Hawai Gov. Linda Lingle has signed legislation that prohibits harassing someone using electronic means, such as cell phone text messages or on social networking Web sites.
The legislation was introduced by Democratic Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu of Waipahu-Waikele.
It expands the definition of current law that outlaws harassment or harassment by stalking to include electronic means.
Karamatsu says that is important as social networking sites proliferate. Those include Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.
He says law enforcement agencies estimate that electronic communications are involved in 20 to 40 percent of all stalking cases.
Hawaii joins almost four dozen other states that have similar laws.
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