Table 2

Forms of intimidation, frequency of experience and numbers of respondents, including number of WHO regions

Have you experienced/do you think that other members of the tobacco control community have experienced…, and how frequently*? (n=23)
I have experienced it.Other members of the tobacco control community in your country have experienced it.I or another member has experienced it.WHO regions
Public discreditation—social media10 (43%)Frequently: 3 Sometimes: 412
(52%)
Frequently: 5
Sometimes: 7
14 (61%)Five
Public discreditation—traditional media9
(39%)
Frequently: 3 Sometimes: 612
(52%)
Frequently: 6
Sometimes: 6
12 (52%)Four
Public discreditation—other (eg, statements on the website)9
(39%)
Frequently: 3 Sometimes: 510
(43%)
Frequently: 3
Sometimes: 5
11 (48%)Four
Legal threats or attacks5
(21%)
Frequently: 1 Sometimes: 39
(39%)
Frequently: 4
Sometimes: 3
11 (48%)Four
Non-anonymous intimidating messages6
(26%)
Frequently: 1 Sometimes: 39
(39%)
Frequently: 1
Sometimes: 4
10 (43%)Five
Anonymous intimidating messages6
(26%)
Frequently: 1 Sometimes: 28
(34%)
Frequently: 2
Sometimes: 6
9 (39%)Four
Cyberattacks4
(17%)
Frequently: 2 Sometimes: 18
(34%)
Frequently: 1
Sometimes: 2
8 (34%)Four
Physical violence/intimidation2
(9%)
Frequently: 0 Sometimes: 24
(17%)
Frequently: 1
Sometimes: 1
4 (17%)Three
Theft/burglary2
(9%)
Frequently: 0 Sometimes: 13
(13%)
Frequently: 0
Sometimes: 1
3 (13%)Three
Other:† spying/surveillance2 (9%)2 (9%)2 (9%)Two
Other:† anonymous complaint to the employer2 (9%)02 (9%)One
Other:† disseminating false information about individual/organisation among policy makers/in hearings1 (4%)1 (4%)2 (9%)Two
Other:† complaint against the organisation to controlling authority01 (4%)1 (4%)One
  • *The participants were provided with the following options: All the time, Frequently, Sometimes, Rarely, Never, Prefer not to say/I don’t know. ‘All the time’ remained unused.

  • †These forms have been identified on the basis of responses to open-ended questions.