Doxxing, or “doxing”, is a malicious online act where people trace, locate and reveal an individual’s personal information without their consent. Originating from the term “dropping documents”, it is a form of cyberbullying, where an individual’s personal information is used against them with the threat of it being shared publicly without permission. To identify their targets’ accounts or data, perpetrators trace information across difference websites and servers by looking for matching names or usernames. Once the information is gathered or compiled, it is then weaponised against the person.
The harms of doxxing
People are increasingly being doxxed for having views that conflict with others, or sometimes just for amusement. This act of revealing personal information is used to humiliate, embarrass, or harm individuals. The widespread nature of doxxing may not cause people to think much of it; however, it is highly dangerous for someone’s personal information to be publicly available, gathered, and posted on the Internet for all to see. The leaked private data could encompass more than just a name, email, or phone number; it might also involve their home address, financial statements, identification, or personal images and videos.
This can expose individuals to identity theft and impersonation attempts, which can pose serious risks to their personal and reputational safety. The extent of information that can potentially be obtained can also be used as guidance for mimicking the original person and may lead to severely defamatory actions committed fraudulently as the person. This can lead to damaged interpersonal relationships, connections, and/or their professional reputation. The published personal information also allows other people to pile on and contribute to the harassment with actions such as phoning up someone’s workplace with false allegations, signing them up for spam or unwanted email subscriptions, or continuously calling or sending them messages.
Protecting yourself from doxxing
It is always a wise idea to be cautious with your personal information on the internet, especially on social media platforms. The following precautions should be taken to prevent your personal data being stolen:
- Use strong passwords that do not overlap with one another: this minimises the damage done if one of your passwords us involved in a data breach.
- Exercise care when connecting with public Wi-Fi networks: those without passwords tend to lack encryption and security measures, exposing users to higher risks of data interception and access.
- Be cautious about posting on social media: be aware of the information you are sharing and who you are sharing it with – especially if you have a public account.
Under the current UK law, doxxing is a direct breach of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and communications offences under S.127 of the Communications Act 2003. Before taking legal action, the following is a good starting point to safeguard your rights and clarify your position as a victim who has taken steps to attempt the removal of materials and information:
- Contact the social media platforms where the information was published to ask for it to be taken down; usually platforms offer a “report” function for anything that goes against their guidelines.
- Document the abuse through screenshots, recordings, or through other forms of evidence.
- Seek legal advice with the evidence and the attempts to have the information taken down.
If you need advice or assistance, please contact Nath Solicitors on 0203 983 8278 or get in touch with the firm online.