  While the Internet has dramatically increased the exposure that research can
receive, it has also facilitated harassment against scholars. To understand the
impact that these attacks can have on the work of researchers, we perform a
series of systematic interviews with researchers including academics,
journalists, and activists, who have experienced targeted, Internet-facilitated
harassment. We provide a framework for understanding the types of harassers
that target researchers, the harassment that ensues, and the personal and
professional impact on individuals and academic freedom. We then study
preventative and remedial strategies available, and the institutions that
prevent some of these strategies from being more effective. Finally, we discuss
the ethical structures that could facilitate more equitable access to
participating in research without serious personal suffering.
