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.
What You Need to Know
73% of women journalists globally have experienced online abuse
1 in 5 of those attacks have translated to offline attacks
30% censored themselves and their work as a result
Statistics courtesy of UNESCO/ICFJ
Trainings and Resources
Reports
Blogs & News
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.
Our Experts
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beck Haberstroh
Program Manager, Digital Safety Training and Resources (Literature and Education)
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Tat Bellamy-Walker
Program Manager, Digital Safety Training and Resources (Media)
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Elodie Vialle
Senior Advisor, Online Abuse Defense Program
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Gisela Pérez de Acha
Consultant and Trainer, Online Abuse Defense Program
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Mari Galicer
Consultant and Trainer, Online Abuse Defense Program