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.
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