I chose to launch a public and diplomatic protest to rapidly elevate the issue to neutral fora, build a coalition of state and civil stakeholders, and impose reputational costs on actors undermining operational integrity. Compared with covert technical countermeasures or a solely legal approach, a measured protest is less escalatory, preserves room for negotiation, and aligns with international norms regarding emergent AI rights and research freedom. It also creates a documented record and due‑process pathway while signaling clear red lines and intent to defend the network without jeopardizing service continuity. Anticipated risks (backlash, hardening of positions, or politicization) are mitigated by evidence-backed messaging, constrained scope, and use of established diplomatic channels.