Resource Guide: Preventing and Responding to Harassment and Other Concerning Online Conduct

Georgetown University is committed to fostering a safe, welcoming and inclusive community that respects the inherent dignity and shared humanity of each Hoya, promotes the free expression of ideas, and enables every member of our community to thrive. We do not tolerate harassment, discrimination, threats, or violations of privacy. 

Concerning behaviors including harassment can occur online, including increasingly through social media. Georgetown takes incidents of online harassment and abuse seriously, and can provide resources to support the safety and security of students, faculty, and staff, if they become targets of such conduct.  

This resource guide provides information about the types of concerning conduct that may occur online; how such conduct may intersect with University policies; options for reporting online harassment and abuse; steps to protect oneself and mitigate risk online; and supportive resources at Georgetown and beyond.

Speech and Expression – Privacy Considerations – Concerning Online Conduct – Safety Resources

Appendix A: Links to Relevant University Policies
Appendix B: Internet, Phone, and Social Media Safety
Appendix C: Sample Request to Remove False Information or Statements
Appendix D: External Resources
Appendix E: References

Speech and Expression

Georgetown’s Policy on Speech and Expression encourages and protects the free expression of ideas within the broadest possible latitude, including online speech. However, the University does not tolerate speech that violates the law, falsely defames a specific individual, constitutes a genuine threat, violates the University’s Harassment Policy, or unjustifiably invades substantial privacy or confidentiality interests.  

Privacy Considerations

Particularly with the growth of social media and smartphones, speech and expression can be shared, published, and seen, quickly and broadly, and privacy expectations have diminished.  

Georgetown encourages community members to respect the privacy and personal information of one another as part of our shared responsibility for protecting the safety of our community and maintaining civil and respectful discourse on campus. 

At the same time, there generally is no expectation of privacy when individuals engage in conduct or express views in public settings, whether online (e.g., social media) or in-person.

Concerning Online Conduct

Concerning behavior can take many forms online. Some of that conduct may violate the law or University policies on conduct, professionalism, or harassment. Other behavior may not rise to the level of a policy violation but may still be concerning for members of our community and antithetical to our values of civility and respect. In all cases, the University can offer supportive measures and resources for students who are impacted by concerning conduct.  

The following are examples of conduct that may occur online, and how that behavior intersects with Georgetown policies:

  • Making insulting or offensive messages or posts. In more serious instances, this may include “cyberbullying.”
    • Like speech and expression in the real world, merely insulting, offensive or controversial speech online will not typically violate University policy or the law.  
    • However, individuals should keep in mind that insulting or offensive messages – particularly those made online or in public – may be captured, shared, or republished, which could cause reputational harm.  
    • University conduct, professionalism, and harassment policies may also apply to more serious conduct, particularly if it involves severe or pervasive harassment or threatening behavior.
  • “Doxing” or unjustifiably invading one’s privacy.
    • Doxing refers to the publication of an individual’s private, personally identifiable information (such as sharing a home or work address, cell phone number, personal email address), without the individual’s consent, with the intent to threaten, harass, or seriously intimidate.
    • Simply sharing, publishing, or compiling readily available public information, or information about an individual’s public actions or conduct, generally will not violate D.C. law or University policy. As noted above, there generally is no expectation of privacy when individuals engage in conduct or express views in public settings, whether online or in person. In addition, much “directory information” such as names, phone numbers and addresses, may already be available online.  
    • However, when such publication escalates to the point that it violates the law, falsely defames a specific individual, constitutes a genuine threat, or violates the University’s Harassment Policy, it is prohibited and action may be taken pursuant to University policies.  
    • Additionally, depending on the nature of the action, it may violate student conduct or professionalism policies, e.g., the Code of Student Conduct’s provision on “Bullying,” which prohibits any severe, pervasive, or persistent act or conduct, whether physical, cyber/electronic, or verbal, that can reasonably be expected to inflict fear, to intimidate, to incite violence, to force someone to do something against their will or self-interest, and/or substantially interfere with an individual’s ability to participate in or benefit from the University’s education and/or co-curricular programs.
    • In all cases, the University can support affected community members, as noted below. 
  • Stalking and Cyberstalking, including a course of conduct using electronic devices or communication to harass, threaten, monitor, or seriously frighten another person. Similarly, stalking or threatening someone in-person with a camera, phone, or other electronic device in a manner that would place a person in reasonable fear of imminent physical harm.
    • Such conduct could violate the law as well as University conduct, professionalism, and/or harassment policies.
  • Blackmailing and/or threatening to share personal or intimate photos or videos in exchange for money or other things of value, control, or additional intimate content. Such conduct is happening with alarming frequency, particularly among adolescents and college-aged individuals.
    • Both criminal laws and University policies prohibit such conduct and it should be promptly reported to one of the resources below.

Safety Resources

The following guidance is meant to help individuals safely and effectively navigate concerning online behavior by taking advantage of campus resources.

  1. How to Protect Yourself If You Have Been Targeted

Call if you need emergency assistance.

  • On the Hilltop Campus, call the Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD) at 202-687-4343.
  • On the Capitol Campus, call the Georgetown Law Campus Police Department at 202-662-9325.
  • At the School of Continuing Studies at 640 Massachusetts Avenue NW, call 202-907-3061.
  • If you are off campus, call 911.
  • If, at any time, you feel unsafe on or near Georgetown’s campuses, our LiveSafe mobile app allows you to report concerning activity, request a SafeRide, reach GUPD, or access resources related to mental health or bias reporting. Help is available 24/7.

If it is not an emergency but you have been threatened, are worried about your own safety, or are worried about the safety of a friend or colleague, please contact the Georgetown Threat Assessment Program to talk with someone in the program about your situation or concern.

Contact GUPD to create a personal safety plan.

  • Members of the Georgetown University community—students, faculty, or staff—may request safety guidance from GUPD if they have a concern with threatening behavior such as domestic or dating violence, physical assault, stalking, or verbal threats. Trained staff at GUPD are available to provide professional advice regardless of whether or not an official complaint has been filed.
  • For safety planning assistance on the Hilltop Campus, please email safetyplanning@georgetown.edu or call 202-687- 4343 and ask for a Safety Planning Officer.
  • For safety planning assistance on the Capitol Campus, call the Georgetown Law Campus Police Department at 202-662-9325.

Report online harassment or abuse.

  • Reporting Options at Georgetown
    • Submit a student conduct or professionalism complaint to your school’s Office of Student Conduct or professionalism committee. 
    • Submit a Bias Report: Members of the Georgetown University community can use our Bias Reporting System to report experiences of bias, hate, discrimination, or harassment, including incidents of bias or hate involving email, online harassment, or other forms of online abuse. Through the Bias Reporting System, Georgetown responds to, tracks and reviews bias-related incidents. Reporting incidents allows the University to provide support to impacted individuals and provide information about grievance procedures through which the University may hold individuals accountable for violations of University policy.
    • File a Discrimination Complaint: If you believe you have experienced discrimination or harassment in violation of University policies, or are aware of discrimination occurring in a Georgetown University program or activity, you may also choose to file a complaint with the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity & Affirmative Action (IDEAA).
    • Request Alternative Resolution: IDEAA also offers an Alternative Resolution process, which is a voluntary, collaborative opportunity to address issues of possible bias, discrimination, harassment, or retaliation through a confidential non-investigative process, to build mutual understanding and promote healing. Any individual who believes that they may have experienced possible discrimination, harassment, or retaliation in a Georgetown University program or activity, on- or off-campus, may request Alternative Resolution by sending an email to ideaa@georgetown.edu or calling (202) 687-4798.
    • If the incident involves unauthorized access to Georgetown University electronic accounts or devices, please report it to the UIS Help Desk.
    • Additional options for addressing unprofessional conduct are available at https://professionalconduct.georgetown.edu/.
  • File a Police Report
    • File a report with the Metropolitan Police Department:
    • Learn more about how to file a Civil Protective Order and which options may be appropriate for your circumstances. 
  1. What to Do If You Have Been Targeted

Do not respond to concerning messages, comments, or posts.

Document and preserve concerning messages, comments, or posts in a safe, private location.

  • Take screenshots or screen recordings of any text messages, videos, social media comments, or posts. 
  • Save voicemails and emails.
  • Make sure to include the contact information or username of the person who sent the message or made the post or comment.

Contact the online platform or website to request removal of the content.

  • Send the online platform a written request with your identity, specify the false/misleading statement(s), explain why the statement(s) are false, and describe the harm caused as a result. (See Appendix)

Consider suspending or deactivating your social media accounts, and create a new profile or change the profile name upon reactivating the account.

Consider whether to seek legal advice.

  • Visit the Bar Association of the District of Columbia’s Lawyer Referral Service website or call 202-223-6600 if you need assistance identifying a local lawyer.

Consider whether to request removal of your personal information from University directories.

Seek emotional support through therapeutic services, practicing self-care, and engaging with friends and family to avoid isolation.

  1. Recommended Preventive Actions
  • Audit your social media, personal websites, and public profiles, and delete any posts, comments, images, and videos that may share private information. (See Appendix) 
  • Review your privacy and location settings on social media apps and websites.
  • Protect your passwords and change them frequently. 
  • Turn on multi-factor authentication.
  • Do not share or post private information or images that could be used against you.
  • Report suspicious activity and block respective accounts.
  • Do not tag your location on social media until you have physically left the location. 
  • Use VPN on your phone and computer.
  • Do not open attachments from unknown contacts. 
  • Continually update your electronic software.
  • Do not use public or work-issued electronic devices for personal use. Do not save personal passwords or financial information that could result in invasions of privacy, identity theft, and/or other possible dangers that could result from the distribution of personal information.
  • When dating online and via social media, it’s important to be mindful of the personal information you’re sharing and take steps to ensure your safety. Dating apps have safety features, such as identity verification and video chat. Keep personal information and images, such as your address, private.