Doxxing

Doxxing, sometimes spelled doxxing, is the practice of publicly revealing private or identifying information about a person or organization, typically with the intent to harass, threaten, or coerce. Information involved can include a real name, home address, phone number, email, workplace, family details, financial information, or links to social media profiles. Doxxing may involve aggregating data from multiple sources to construct a more complete profile.

Methods and scope: Information can be gathered from public records, social networks, data breaches, or through crowdsourced investigations. It can target individuals, groups, journalists, activists, or companies, and may be conducted online, offline, or in mixed forms. Motives range from retaliation and intimidation to political activism or vigilantism.

Legal and ethical context: The legal status of doxxing varies by jurisdiction. Some actions—such as sharing sensitive personal data with intent to threaten or harass—may violate privacy, harassment, stalking, or cybercrime laws. Many online platforms prohibit doxxing and may remove content or suspend accounts under their safety policies.

Impact and responses: Doxxing can lead to safety risks, stalking, threats, job loss, housing instability, or reputational harm. Victims are advised to document abuse, tighten digital privacy, report to platforms, and seek legal protection or law enforcement if threats are involved. Organizations should implement privacy safeguards and incident response plans.