LOS ANGELES, December 4, 2023 (Newswire.com) - As political polarization has increased, so has doxxing — the practice of exposing personal information as a means of intimidation. Journalists are facing this threat every day, and it is more important than ever to protect their privacy. To counter this trend, Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) is teaming up with DeleteMe, funded by Microsoft’s Democracy Forward Initiative, to help decrease the amount of personal information about journalists that can be discovered online. The collaboration will help protect local journalists from threats during a critical election year and ensure they can provide high-quality information to local communities.
Doxxing occurs when malicious individuals share the personal information of journalists, such as phone numbers or home addresses, with the public. This makes journalists and the organizations they serve an easy target for abuses ranging from identity theft, harassment, robocalls, and spam texts. Coupled with threats, tampering, and cyberattacks, the need for better online privacy is more pressing than ever.
Rob Shavell, CEO of DeleteMe, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration. "In a world where the safeguarding of personal data is paramount, this collaboration with INN and Microsoft's Democracy Forward represents a significant stride in ensuring that those who are instrumental to upholding democratic processes are not left vulnerable to online threats," he said.
The new collaboration will make 140 licenses of DeleteMe's security product available to journalists who work for newsrooms in the INN Network. INN is also making additional free and discounted security resources available to its newsrooms.
“Journalists in nonprofit newsrooms do important work that no one else is doing — and sometimes that exposes them to threats and harassment from those who would try to silence them,” said Jonathan Kealing, INN’s chief network officer. “Through programs like the collaboration with Microsoft and DeleteMe and other offerings we’ve developed at INN, we’re helping ensure journalists have the support and protection they need to feel confident in doing the fearless reporting that is a hallmark of nonprofit news organizations."
About the Institute for Nonprofit News
The Institute for Nonprofit News strengthens and supports more than 425 independent news organizations in a new kind of news network: nonprofit, nonpartisan and dedicated to public service. From local news to in-depth reporting on pressing global issues, members of the INN Network tell stories that otherwise would go untold — connecting communities, holding the powerful accountable and strengthening democracy.
About DeleteMe:
DeleteMe, headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts, is the industry leader in personal data protection and the creator of the Privacy-as-a-Service industry category. With over 100 million individual pieces of data removed since 2009. DeleteMe serves at the forefront of the personal data removal domain. The company's core mission is to simplify the process of managing personal data online, ensuring that individuals and businesses can minimize risks to cybersecurity and personal safety. Join consumers across the United States, 20% of the Fortune 500, and dozens of government agencies and nonprofits at joindeleteme.com.
Contact Information:Daniela Davila
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Original Source: Improving Privacy for Journalists: INN Collaborates With DeleteMe
