Digital security and online safety are increasingly important issues for researchers. We have a responsibility to protect our research subjects and their data, particularly when some research sensitive topics may involve substantial risk of harm to subjects if there is a data breach. Additionally, researchers themselves may become targets for online harassment and attacks.

On this page, we have compiled some general online safety advice for all researchers. We also have prepared a guide outlining what to do if you experience online harassment related to your work at Carleton as a scholar.

 

Online Safety for Researchers

Online harassment is a risk for everyone with a public persona, including researchers. Contemporary harassment strategies can include intimidating messages by email or on social media, the release of personal information (“doxxing”), and threats. Harassers may also target your co-authors, department, and the University, as well as your family and friends. Risks vary with research topics and researcher identity, but we recommend all researchers be proactive about online safety and digital security to limit potential exposure of personal information:

  • Keep your computer and phone operating systems up to date so you benefit from security patches.
  • Keep personal, public-facing professional, and research project social media accounts separate.
  • Give all your accounts unique, strong passwords (using a password manager, such as those built into the Firefox and Safari browsers or a standalone program).
  • Whenever available, enable multifactor authentication for email and social media accounts.
  • Consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when travelling or using public wifi networks. VPNs are services that provide enhanced confidentiality while using public networks. Note, however, that “free” VPN providers often mine their users data; paid services like Mullvad, Proton VPN, Mozilla VPN, or TunnelBear provide more security.
  • Consider disabling location logging on social media and your phone’s camera app.
  • Be mindful of posting personal information, particularly the kind often used in password retrieval security questions.

For more detailed advice, consult ITS’s Security Awareness course on Brightspace, Consumer Reports’ Security Planner, Feminist Frequency’s Speak Up & Stay Safe(r) guide, or PEN America’s Online Harassment Field Manual. If you consider your research “risky” or are concerned you could be targeted for online harassment, consult Marwick, Blackwell and Lo’s Data & Society Guide, “Best Practices for Conducting Risky Research and Protecting Yourself from Online Harassment.”

If you are currently experiencing online harassment related to your work as a researcher, consult our guide for advice and resources.

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Guide for Researchers Experiencing Online Harassment

Safety First

Your physical safety and well-being – and that of your colleagues, friends, and family – should be your first concern.

  • Contact your department chair and the Dean’s office so they can help coordinate a response and ensure you have the resources you need. They can help with:
    • removing your contact information from the university’s website;
    • preparing department or University staff who may receive communications related to the situation; or
    • moving your classes or workspace, if necessary.
  • If your physical safety is a concern and you feel comfortable doing so, contact Campus Safety or local law enforcement for immediate help or safety planning.
  • Take steps to limit further exposure. For example, switch social media accounts to private and update your passwords.
  • Pay attention to your mental health: Talk with friends and loved ones about what you’re going through. Contact Health and Counselling Services for assistance. If the harassment targets aspects of your identity, you may also wish to speak to Equity and Inclusive Communities for support.

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Document the Situation

Social media and other online comments are ephemeral. You will likely want to have documentation of your experiences.

  • Preserve evidence of harassing messages via social media, email, texts and voicemails, or other channels.
  • Consider keeping a log that documents your experience and organizes screen shots. Be sure to include:
    • Date and time
    • Type of communication (direct message, posted image, social media comment, etc.)
    • Location (name of the website or app.)
    • Nature of the online incident (a threat of sexual violence, a racially-motivated attack, etc.)
  • If this is too difficult to do yourself, ask a trusted colleague to assist you. (Your department chair or the Dean’s office can assist with identifying someone, if needed.)

Turning Down the Volume

Once you’ve seen to your immediate safety and taken steps to collect and preserve evidence, you will want to begin reducing the presence of harassing messages in your everyday life.

  • If harassment is coming from a particular channel or mode of communication, consider filtering or muting that channel. You could ask someone else to screen your voicemail messages, set up rules to filter your email, or remove a particular social media app from your phone.
  • If you have been able to identify particular users as sources of the harassment, you may wish to mute or block them (keeping in mind that blocking will no longer allow you to know if they are continuing the harassing behaviour).
  • You can also report users, comments, or private messages to social media platforms. PEN America’s Online Harassment Field Manual has compiled reporting mechanisms and policies for major platforms. Note that platforms’ automated content moderation processes are not always responsive to violations of their terms of service, and you may need to escalate in order to reach a human moderator who can take action.
  • Take further steps to protect your online identity and remove personal information from the internet. Feminist Frequency has assembled some common “people finder” websites that you can check to see what information about you is available online.

Decide Whether to Respond

It can be tough to know whether to address the situation publicly. You will likely want to defend yourself and your reputation and to correct errors of fact. However, making statements can sometimes prolong or intensify the situation and even increase risks to your physical safety. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages with trusted advisors, including your department chair and the Dean, and seek advice about framing any response you do decide to make.