Protecting journalists from the risks of personal data exposure

A journalist is killed every four days, on average, and assaults on reporters in the US have risen more than 50% in a single year.

This whitepaper examines how personal data exposure is putting journalists and newsrooms at risk, and what media organizations can do to protect their people before a threat forces the story inward.

What's inside...

• Why journalists face an escalating threat of doxxing, harassment, and physical violence—and how easily a byline becomes a target

• How personal information freely available online is enabling home-based intimidation campaigns that reach beyond reporters to their families

• Why AI is making phishing and spyware attacks against journalists and media organizations harder to detect and more damaging

• What existing privacy laws get right, where they fall short, and why partial-coverage solutions leave dangerous gaps

• A three-option framework for media organizations evaluating how to protect their journalists within constrained budgets

About Ironwall by Incogni

Ironwall is a digital bodyguard designed to protect employees and executive teams from threats that start online—like doxxing, targeted harassment, and real-world violence.

How we do it:

• Complete removal. Search and removal of exposed personal information from the entire searchable web. 

• Expert-led intelligence. Threat monitoring, risk assessment, and detection of escalation patterns.

• Emergency response. De-escalation, safety planning, and coordination with security and law enforcement.  

© Ironwall by Incogni