Threats no longer need to arrive at the door. They can appear without warning on a screen, concealed behind a username or anonymous account.

For journalists, artists, activists, and ordinary people alike, online threats have become a powerful tool of intimidation. A few words typed in seconds can spread fear, invite further harassment, and pressure people into silence. What begins as a single message can quickly become a campaign of abuse, amplified by the speed and reach of digital platforms.

The internet has expanded our ability to speak, organize, and be heard. Yet it has also given intimidation new tools and new places to hide. When threats become part of everyday online life, freedom of expression is undermined not only by censorship, but by the fear of what speaking out may bring. Protecting that freedom therefore requires more than defending the right to speak—it requires creating digital spaces where people can do so without being threatened into silence.