doxing

Doxing, also spelled doxxing, refers to the act of publicly revealing or distributing another person’s personal information without their consent, with the intent to intimidate, harass, or harm. Information commonly exposed includes real names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, workplace or school, family members, financial details, and social media profiles. The practice may occur online or offline and can be part of broader harassment campaigns, though it can also arise in journalism, activism, or whistleblowing contexts where privacy expectations are contested.

Methods, in a broad sense, involve gathering and aggregating data from publicly available sources, public records, data breaches, or crowdsourced postings. Doxing relies on connecting fragments of information to identify or locate a person, rather than obtaining a single highly sensitive datum. Because it often targets individuals, doxing is widely associated with intimidation, harassment, stalking, or reputational harm.

Impact and risks are significant: victims may experience physical threats, stalking, job loss, housing instability, or severe emotional distress. The effects can extend to family members and close associates. The practice raises important privacy and safety concerns and can intersect with issues of consent, freedom of information, and public accountability.

Legal and policy contexts vary by jurisdiction. In many places, doxing can violate laws against harassment, stalking, doxxing statutes, or privacy protections, and can lead to civil or criminal penalties. Online platforms typically prohibit doxing under safety and abuse policies, though enforcement varies.

Prevention and response emphasize privacy hygiene, such as limiting personal disclosures, using strong security settings, monitoring one’s online footprint, and promptly reporting doxing to platforms or authorities. Authorities may advise preserving evidence and seeking legal protection when threats or harm are involved. The term originated in hacker and online communities in the 1990s and became prominent with growing concerns about online harassment.