Why you might be subject to online abuse
High-risk individuals may be subject to online abuse including harassment and intimidation. Hostile actors may do this to:
- Provoke a reaction or cause distress.
- Attempt to silence or intimidate you.
- Try and influence you or dissuade you from continuing your lawful activities.
- Show hostility to you because of your views or actions, or those of an organisation you are part of.
- Retaliate against you or your organisation.
- Attempt to damage your character or reputation.
- Target you based on misinformation, stereotypes, or prejudices.
Know What To Do - Online Harassment or Intimidation
Online anonymity can embolden individuals to engage in abusive behaviour that they may not exhibit in face-to-face interactions. The distance and perceived anonymity of the internet can lead to increased levels of aggression or hostility. Abuse can have serious consequences, including psychological harm, reputational damage, and threats to personal safety.
What you should do if you are subject to online abuse
In the UK, there is criminal legislation related to online abuse, harassment and threatening behaviour. It can be invoked to stop this type of behaviour. If online abuse is happening to you:
If you believe you are in immediate danger or being targeted by hostile surveillance, contact the police immediately by calling 999.
You can use the Anti-Terrorism Hotline (0800 789 321) or online form to report incidents that are not immediately life-threatening.
- Do not reply to any abusive messages.
- Document abuse and keep offensive emails, messages and posts as evidence.
- Block the abuser's social media, email and instant messaging accounts, as appropriate.
- Report the abuser to the social media site.
- If you are subject to abuse via a call to your mobile phone, do not engage with the caller. Block the number on your device, and document the phone number and time of call.
- Revisit the security of your devices (see Plan Ahead and Protect Information About You).