Training modules/Dealing with online harassment/slides/what-to-do-with-third-party-reports

Handling reports: What to do with third-party reports

Sometimes, you will receive reports that are not from the target of harassment. For instance, someone might observe harassment occurring against someone else which they feel is serious enough to report on the other person's behalf. When investigating these situations, a good first step is to privately contact the person who is the reported target. Their opinions and any background they can provide will be valuable.

Remember, however, that your investigation and any outcomes will usually not be decided by the wishes of the targeted user. The reported problem may represent a threat to other users and the community at large and may need to be investigated whether the target desires that approach or not. In these cases, however, it important to conduct your investigation in a way that respects the target's privacy – some targets of harassment may fear retribution if they are identified as the reporting or targeted party.