Online Abuse & Digital Safety

Online Abuse & Digital Safety

Online abuse stifles free speech.

Online abuse—from violent threats and hateful slurs to sexual harassment and doxing—poses a direct and pressing threat to free expression. Writers, journalists, and scholars are targeted for their profession and their identity, especially if they are women, people of color, LGBTQ+, or as members of religious or ethnic minorities. PEN America is committed to making online spaces more safe,  equitable, and free by: helping those facing abuse and other safety challenges; collaborating with media organizations, publishers, and other employers; conducting research and advocacy; and working with partner organizations to fight back.

Trainings and Resources

Reports

Blogs & News

  • Text graphic with Journalist Safety in blue and Urgent Care Helpline in black. Background features lined paper and a hand holding a pen, suggesting a theme related to writing or journalism.

    Journalist Safety Urgent Care Helpline Responds to Growing Threats

    Monday March 24
  • Four people participating in a virtual meeting. A Journalism Institute banner is visible in one participants background. They are engaged, with some using gestures. Books and office materials are in the background.

    What are My Digital Protections? How to Handle (and Prevent) Online Threats as a Journalist

    Monday January 6
  • Protecting Your Digital Footprint: A Guide for Journalists

    Wednesday August 28
  • Combatting Online Abuse: Practical Tips for Journalists

    Thursday August 1
  • Risk Assessment and Physical Safety: What Every Journalist Should Know

    Monday July 1
  • U.S. Cyber Defense Agency Launches Website for High-Risk Communities, with Digital Safety Guidance from PEN America

    Tuesday April 2

Does your organization need help dealing with online abuse?

If you are a writer, journalist, editor, teacher, professor, librarian, or administrator dealing with online harassment, PEN America has tools and resources to help. Check out the Online Harassment Field Manual for guidance, and contact [email protected] for more information on our online abuse defense training program.

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