Support for Digital Safety Concerns
Find advice on how to report digital safety concerns and resources for support when your digital safety or the safety of others has been compromised.
University of Edinburgh Resources
Support and guidance provided by the University and the Students’ Association on what to do if you or someone you know has been the victim of a digital safety breach.
IS Helpline
If you’ve been the victim of a phishing scam, online fraud, or hack, contact the IS Helpline immediately to report the issue. Your enquiry will then be forwarded to the relevant University department for further action.
Counselling Services
We know that digital safety breaches can greatly impact mental health and wellbeing. You can access specialist support for a variety of safety concerns, both online and off, through the Staff and Student Counselling Services.
Report + Support
The University’s Report + Support platform allows both anonymous and named reporting of distressing situations related to sexual violence, harassment, domestic abuse and stalking. It is recommended you access the platform via VPN from off-campus networks where possible. While reporting an incident through the Report and Support platform does not mean a complaint or conduct investigation is automatically instigated, support staff can discuss incidents further if you make a report by name.
Students' Association Advice Place Guidance on Harassment, Safety & Crime
General safety advice curated by the Students’ Association on what to do if you’ve been the victim of online harassment or discrimination and how to report a crime.
Advice Place Guidance on Harassment, Safety & Crime
Students' Association Advice Place Guidance on Complaints and Conduct
Advice on what kind of behaviour is considered misconduct and how to make a complaint to the University if your digital safety has been compromised.
Advice Place Guidance on Complaints and Conduct
University of Edinburgh Complaints Procedure
This webpage outlines the formal procedure for filing a complaint at the University when frontline resolutions have failed.
University of Edinburgh Complaints Procedure
External Support for Digital Safety Concerns
Digital safety breaches can be extremely stressful. The alphabetised list below provides useful external resources to consult if your digital safety or the safety of someone you know has been compromised.
Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP)
If you’re worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online, you can make a report to one of CEOP's Child Protection Advisors.
Child Exploitation and Online Protection
Get Safe Online
This helpful website provides information on protecting your computer, smartphone, and tablets when shopping, banking, and using social networks.
Information Commissioner’s Office
The main source of official information about data protection, what is expected of all citizens when handling personally sensitive information, and the laws related to this.
Information Commissioner’s Office
Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
You can anonymously and confidentially report child sexual abuse content, criminally obscene adult content and non-photographic child sexual abuse images through the IWF.
National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
A government organisation that helps protect national critical services from cyber-attacks, manage major incidents, and improve the underlying security of the UK Internet.
National Cyber Security Centre
Police Scotland
Police Scotland handle all reports of fraud and other financial crimes in Scotland. If you have been the victim of online fraud, report the crime to Police Scotland via 101 without delay.
Report Harmful Content
This website offers advice and a platform where you can report content that has caused you or someone you know distress or harm. Specific harms addressed include online abuse, bullying and harassment, threats, impersonation, and various types of upsetting content.
Revenge Porn Helpline
A UK-based service dedicated to supporting all adults who have been the victim of intimate image abuse. This site provides free, non-judgemental and confidential advice and support via email and phone.
True Vision - Report Hate Crime
True Vision offers guidance on how to report online hate crime and illegal content that incites hatred on the grounds of race, religion, sexual orientation/identity, and disability.
True Vision - Reporting Internet Hate Crime
Webutation
Webutation is an open community that tests web addresses against spyware, spam, and scams.
Webutation Online Website Reputation Checker
Plaform-Specific Guidance
The following resources offer guidance for reporting harmful content and terms of service breaches on specific websites and social media platforms.
Guidance on how to report inappropriate or abusive content and behaviours on Facebook.
Guidance on how to report abuse, inappropriate content and illegal activity on Google.
Google - report abuse or legal issue
Guidance on how to report inappropriate or abusive content and behaviours on Instagram.
Guidance on how to report violations of the Twitter Rules and Terms of Service, including abusive behaviour and exploitation.
YouTube
Safety tools and resources, as well as guidance on how to report abusive behaviours and privacy violations that go against YouTube's Community Guidelines.
YouTube - Community Guidelines
YouTube - Safety Tools & Resources
YouTube - Reporting & Enforcement
© Victoria Madden, University of Edinburgh, 2021, CC BY-SA 4.0, unless otherwise indicated.