Under Pressure: Exploring the effect of legal and criminal threats on security researchers and journalists

## Executive summary This pilot survey of 112 security researchers and journalists documents the prevalence and impact of legal and criminal threats related to cybersecurity reporting and research: 77% of respondents reported having experienced threats, 69% reported legal threats (with 73% consulting a lawyer), and criminal threats were reported more frequently by journalists than researchers. Despite threats — including threats of physical violence and DDoS attacks — the majority did not retract or change their work (63% did not retract after legal threats; 85% of researchers did not retract after criminal threats), though 44% said fear of threats affected their research or reporting; the authors call for more systematic research and better support mechanisms for those facing legal and criminal intimidation.