In the past, public and famous figures had to worry most about doxing. Two men were arrested in New York for doxing after posting home addresses and Social Security numbers of dozens of law enforcement personnel on the internet. Last year, federal prosecutors sentenced a former Senate aide for releasing personal information online about five senators in retaliation for their role in a confirmation hearing. However, in recent years, doxing has evolved to include corporations, as well as private individuals, especially the younger generation.
What Is Doxing?
In broad terms, doxing means sharing personal and private information with the intent to cause harm to the person. The damage ranges widely and includes loss of face and employment, threat of harassment and even financial loss. The term evolved from the early days of the internet when online rivals would ‘drop docs’ into forums to reveal the legal names of rivals. While the specifics have changed as well as the sophistication of the attacks, the concept remains the same — making private information about another person public.
Doxing is usually illegal and does violate the terms of service of the majority of social media and web platforms. But prosecuting doxing can be tricky. Many states charge people with either misdemeanors or felonies for posting information that is not publicly shared about another person. Although some doxing incidents can fall under the federal stalking law, state law typically applies, and varies widely based on jurisdiction. For example,
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