What is the legal definition of extortion?

The legal definition of extortion is centered around the act of obtaining something of value through coercion. This involves using threats, force, or intimidation to compel another individual to act against their will or to provide something that they would not normally give. Coercion can take various forms, such as threatening harm, disclosing damaging information, or exerting undue pressure—emphasizing that the victim’s consent is not freely given but rather coerced.

In contrast, the other options do not encapsulate the essence of extortion. Theft refers specifically to the unlawful taking of someone else's property without their permission, lying for personal gain relates more to deceit and fraud rather than coercion, and civil disobedience typically pertains to nonviolent resistance to laws deemed unjust, which does not align with the concept of obtaining value through coercive methods. Therefore, option B accurately represents the legal understanding of extortion.