
PEN America Acquires OnlineSOS, Expanding Commitment to Digital Safety and Free Expression
OnlineSOS, founded in 2016 by Liz Lee at a time when online abuse was largely overlooked, filled a critical gap by providing professional help to people targeted online. As the first U.S. nonprofit of its kind, OnlineSOS provided tactical and emotional support with a focus on mental health, including free therapy and case management, legal resources, and expert-backed content. Its free and accessible online resources were rooted in firsthand experience with supporting journalists, public figures, and everyday Americans in responding to online threats, and also featured contributions from psychologists, lawyers, cybersecurity professionals, and tech platforms. Under Lee's leadership, OnlineSOS grew into a nationally recognized resource trusted by universities, policymakers, and nonprofit and corporate partners.
'Our mission has always been to equip people facing online harassment with the information they need to take action. Online harassment can cause significant psychological harm, making it all the more important that people have options and a sense of agency when so much feels out of their control,' Lee stated.
The decision to find a new home within PEN America for OnlineSOS's digital safety tools is part of a natural progression in OnlineSOS's mission to broaden its impact and ensure the long-term accessibility of its resources. PEN America has highlighted and built on the work of OnlineSOS since launching its online abuse defense programming in 2018.
'Liz Lee and OnlineSOS have been trailblazers in this space, sounding the alarm about online abuse and addressing its devastating impacts when few others were doing this crucial work. We're honored to integrate their resources into our Field Manual and to continue supporting writers, journalists, and others facing online harassment,' said Viktorya Vilk, Director of Digital Safety and Free Expression at PEN America.
By joining forces and consolidating resources, the organizations aim to provide more comprehensive, accessible, and user-friendly guidance to help those abused online protect themselves so that they can continue using their voices and doing their jobs.
Liz Lee will continue in an advisory capacity, providing strategic support to PEN America during the integration period to ensure a seamless transition while OnlineSOS winds down its operations and sunsets in 2025. With OnlineSOS transferring its assets to PEN America, the legacy of Liz Lee's groundbreaking work will be preserved and expanded. 'With the PEN America partnership, our resources are in great hands,' Lee expressed. 'We're particularly excited that integrating with the Field Manual, which is also available in French, Spanish, Arabic, and Swahili, will bring OnlineSOS's resources to communities around the world.' For more on the OnlineSOS transition, read Lee's statement on the former OnlineSOS webpage.
The collaboration represents not just a continuation, but an amplification of OnlineSOS's mission, ensuring that its valuable resources remain accessible and impactful for years to come.
About OnlineSOS:OnlineSOS is a San Francisco–based nonprofit organization founded in 2016 to create a digital safe haven for individuals experiencing online harassment. Through mental health services, legal support, and educational resources, OnlineSOS has been a pioneering force in empowering victims of online abuse. After the completion of an asset acquisition by PEN America, OnlineSOS will sunset in 2025.
About PEN America:PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Malaysian Reserve
37 minutes ago
- Malaysian Reserve
GAC Group Named Official Vehicle Partner at 7th BRICS Media & Think Tank Forum
RIO DE JANEIRO, July 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The 7th BRICS Media and Think Tank Forum, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC), was held in Rio de Janeiro on July 16. GAC Group, a leading Chinese automaker, served as the official vehicle partner of the event, providing transportation support and showcasing its latest models on site. Photo – View original content:


Malaysian Reserve
an hour ago
- Malaysian Reserve
Guidehouse Research Explores Evolving Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Technology Market
eVTOLs are on the verge of full commercial manufacturing and approval BOULDER, Colo., July 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A new report from Guidehouse Research explores electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology, industry players, and proposed business models for rolling out eVTOLs. Now that EVs are being fully rolled out on the ground, developers are looking at other transformations for moving people around. With technological advances increasing every year, eVTOLs are on the verge of full commercial manufacturing and approval, but are flying-car services really on the horizon? According to a new report from Guidehouse Research, with the imminent certification and commercialization of eVTOL vehicles fueling the idea of cars flying over traffic, market watchers can be forgiven for believing that all traffic problems have been solved, and congestion will never be a problem again. 'Many manufacturers of these aircrafts are attempting to speed up their commercial development by launching them as part of a larger air ride-hailing service, like an 'Uber in the sky,'' says Jake Foose, research analyst with Guidehouse Research. 'Whether or not the market is ready for that service to roll out is one issue, but another is whether the vehicles themselves are ready for a flight hailing service.' According to the report, Guidehouse Research suggests: The current eVTOL target business model is unrealistic and shows few signs of applicability to a larger market. After the initial rollout, eVTOL operators should not focus on flight-hailing services. Battery swapping technology could be developed to alleviate charging infrastructure issues that might arise while operating eVTOLs as passenger aircraft. The report, Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Vehicle Services Create Fewer Advantages Than Initially Thought, reviews current eVTOL technology, industry players, and proposed business models for rolling out eVTOL. Guidehouse Research provides detailed and actionable recommendations for eVTOL manufacturers, both for short-term business models and for technology developments that could assist overall market share. An executive summary of the report is available for free download on the Guidehouse Research website. About Guidehouse ResearchGuidehouse Research, the dedicated market intelligence arm of Guidehouse, provides research, data, and benchmarking services for today's rapidly changing and highly regulated industries. Our insights are built on in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The team's research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research, and demand assessment, paired with a deep examination of technology trends, to provide a comprehensive view of emerging resilient infrastructure systems. Additional information about Guidehouse Research can be found at About GuidehouseGuidehouse is a global advisory, technology, and managed services firm delivering value to commercial businesses and federal, state, and local governments. Purpose-built to serve industries focused on communities, energy, infrastructure, healthcare, financial services, defense, and national security, Guidehouse positions clients for AI- and data-led innovation, efficiency, and resilience. With a relentless pursuit of client success and high-quality standards, more than 18,000 colleagues collaborate across the firm to outwit complexity and achieve transformational impact, shaping the future by inspiring meaning in mission. * The information contained in this press release concerning the report, Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Vehicle Services Create Fewer Advantages Than Initially Thought, is a summary and reflects the current expectations of Guidehouse Research based on market data and trend analysis. Market predictions and expectations are inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from those contained in this press release or the report. Please refer to the full report for a complete understanding of the assumptions underlying the report's conclusions and the methodologies used to create the report. Neither Guidehouse Research nor Guidehouse undertakes any obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release or the report. For more information, contact: Cecile Fradkin for Guidehouse Research+1.646.941.9139cfradkin@


The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Spice & Soul of Malaysia programme happening this month in KL
Feast on the wide array of Peranakan delights at The Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur. — The Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur is offering visitors not only a taste of Malaysia's diverse culinary cuisines but also a chance to experience traditional performances this month. This is part of Tourism Malaysia's exciting new programme called 'Spice & Soul of Malaysia', which blends food and culture together. It is also one of the many exciting events happening in the run-up to Visit Malaysia 2026. The programme features Malaysia's 'supper culture' – where people frequent F&B outlets, namely coffee shops and food stall, past midnight – and introduces it to visitors via the 'Midnight Supper' initiative. Through this, visitors can experience similar late-night experiences at participating restaurants, specifically those under the Persatuan Pengusaha Restoran Muslim Malaysia (Presma), a Muslim restaurant operator association in Malaysia. One of these restaurants is Saloma Kuala Lumpur, which will operate until 3am this month. You will be treated to dazzling cultural performance at The Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur. — The Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur Meanwhile, hotels participating in the Spice & Soul of Malaysia programme include ibis Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Hotel Royal Signature, and The Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur. Patrons can enjoy cultural shows, special activities and themed menus. According to Tourism Malaysia deputy director-general (Promotion II) Lee Thai Hung, who was at the launch of the programme in KL recently, the country recorded a whopping tourist expenditure of RM106.8bil last year, with the gastronomy sector contributing 16.1% of the total. Data showed a growth of nearly 1% compared to 2023. 'Gastronomy tourism, which offers local Malaysian food experiences, is a popular activity with tourists both locally and internationally,' Lee said at the event. He added: 'Our rich culinary scene is one of the most appealing factors in the country, making it an important component in boosting Malaysia's economy.'