Wisconsin Statutes
Wis. Stat. § 947.0125 (2026)
Unlawful use of computerized communication systems
✓ current as of July 2026
Find cases:
SyfertCases citing this section
WI-LEGdocs.legis.wisconsin.gov
JustiaChapter on Justia
CornellLII Search
CasesGoogle Scholar
947.0125(1)(1) In this section, “message” means any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature, or any transfer of a computer program, as defined in s. 943.70 (1) (c).
947.0125(2)(a)(a) With intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten, abuse or harass another person, sends a message to the person on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system and in that message threatens to inflict injury or physical harm to any person or the property of any person.
947.0125(2)(b)(b) With intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten, abuse or harass another person, sends a message on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system with the reasonable expectation that the person will receive the message and in that message threatens to inflict injury or physical harm to any person or the property of any person.
947.0125(2)(c)(c) With intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten or abuse another person, sends a message to the person on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system and in that message uses any obscene, lewd or profane language or suggests any lewd or lascivious act.
947.0125(2)(d)(d) With intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten or abuse another person, sends a message on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system with the reasonable expectation that the person will receive the message and in that message uses any obscene, lewd or profane language or suggests any lewd or lascivious act.
947.0125(2)(e)(e) With intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten or abuse another person, sends a message to the person on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system while intentionally preventing or attempting to prevent the disclosure of his or her own identity.
947.0125(2)(f)(f) While intentionally preventing or attempting to prevent the disclosure of his or her identity and with intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten or abuse another person, sends a message on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system with the reasonable expectation that the person will receive the message.
947.0125(3)(a)(a) With intent to harass, annoy or offend another person, sends a message to the person on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system and in that message uses any obscene, lewd or profane language or suggests any lewd or lascivious act.
947.0125(3)(b)(b) With intent to harass, annoy or offend another person, sends a message on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system with the reasonable expectation that the person will receive the message and in that message uses any obscene, lewd or profane language or suggests any lewd or lascivious act.
947.0125(3)(c)(c) With intent solely to harass another person, sends repeated messages to the person on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system.
947.0125(3)(d)(d) With intent solely to harass another person, sends repeated messages on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system with the reasonable expectation that the person will receive the messages.
947.0125(3)(e)(e) With intent to harass or annoy another person, sends a message to the person on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system while intentionally preventing or attempting to prevent the disclosure of his or her own identity.
947.0125(3)(f)(f) While intentionally preventing or attempting to prevent the disclosure of his or her identity and with intent to harass or annoy another person, sends a message on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system with the reasonable expectation that the person will receive the message.
947.0125(3)(g)(g) Knowingly permits or directs another person to send a message prohibited by this section from any computer terminal or other device that is used to send messages on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system and that is under his or her control.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2015–2022 · leading case: State v. Rory A. McKellips, 2016 WI 51 (Wis. 2016).
State v. Rory A. McKellips, 2016 WI 51 (Wis. 2016). “"17 ¶79 I would read this statute in context with two other statutes, Wis. Stat. §§ 947.0125 and 48.825, both of which use the phrase "computerized communication system.”
State v. McKellips, 2015 WI App 31 (Wis. Ct. App. 2015). “The term first appeared in 1996, in Wis. Stat. § 947.0125 (1995-96), "Unlawful use of computerized communication systems.”
Luce v. Town of Campbell, 872 F.3d 512 (7th Cir. 2017). “He was prosecuted for violating Wis. Stat. § 947.0125 (2)(e) (unlawful use of a computerized communication system), pleaded no contest, and received a diversionary disposition.”
Luce v. Town of Campbell, 113 F. Supp. 3d 1002 (W.D. Wis. 2015). “) After the Monroe County Sheriffs department concluded its investigation, Kele-men was charged with Unlawful Use of a Computerized Communication System in violation of Wis. Stat. § 947.0125 (2)(e), to which he pled no contest and enteréd into a diversion agreement.”
State v. Barwick, 921 N.W.2d 532 (Wis. Ct. App. 2018). “4 We conclude, therefore, that the legislature has clearly demonstrated its intent that jurors rely on their common understanding of the meaning of obscene as applied to § 947.0125. Moreover, § 947.0125(2)(c) contains an intent element-it prohibits the use of a computerized…”
Troupe v. Fenderson (E.D. Wis. 2022). “§947.0125 (2)(a), computer message—threaten/injury or harm.”
— Wis. Stat. § 947.0125(2)(a) — 2 cases
State v. Rory A. McKellips, 2016 WI 51 (Wis. 2016). “"17 ¶79 I would read this statute in context with two other statutes, Wis. Stat. §§ 947.0125 and 48.825, both of which use the phrase "computerized communication system.”
State v. McKellips, 2015 WI App 31 (Wis. Ct. App. 2015). “The term first appeared in 1996, in Wis. Stat. § 947.0125 (1995-96), "Unlawful use of computerized communication systems.”
— Wis. Stat. § 947.0125(2)(c) — 1 case
State v. Barwick, 921 N.W.2d 532 (Wis. Ct. App. 2018). “4 We conclude, therefore, that the legislature has clearly demonstrated its intent that jurors rely on their common understanding of the meaning of obscene as applied to § 947.0125. Moreover, § 947.0125(2)(c) contains an intent element-it prohibits the use of a computerized…”
— Wis. Stat. § 947.0125(3)(g) — 2 cases
State v. Rory A. McKellips, 2016 WI 51 (Wis. 2016). “"17 ¶79 I would read this statute in context with two other statutes, Wis. Stat. §§ 947.0125 and 48.825, both of which use the phrase "computerized communication system.”
State v. McKellips, 2015 WI App 31 (Wis. Ct. App. 2015). “The term first appeared in 1996, in Wis. Stat. § 947.0125 (1995-96), "Unlawful use of computerized communication systems.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.