DOXXING – SOCIAL ISSUES
News: What is Doxxing and what can
you do if it happens to you?
What's in the news?
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A woman in mid-February reached out to the Mumbai
Police through X (formerly Twitter) to report a man who had shared a video of
her dancing at an event and compared her performance to sex work.
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The woman clarified that the video was re-posted
without her consent and requested the man multiple times to take down the
video, but he refused to do so.
Doxxing:
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Doxxing involves publicly releasing someone’s private information without consent.
Concerns:
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It can include sensitive
personal details like home addresses, phone numbers, and even medical
records, often sourced through illicit means like hacking.
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Doxxing is a direct
attack on a person’s physical, digital, and emotional security.
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It is a popular and controversial tactic used
against those with opposing political views and sometimes even celebrities and
influencers have been doxxed with real-life consequences.
Legal and Social
Implications:
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Sharing private or semi-private content without
consent can also be considered a form of doxxing, leading to legal and
emotional distress for the victim.
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This can compel victims to alter their lives
drastically, impacting their physical, digital, and emotional security.
Does Doxxing is Illegal?
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Doxxing per se is not illegal, because there are no
specific anti-doxxing laws in most jurisdictions.
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But the legality of doxxing is determined on a case-by-case basis.
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While compiling or publishing publicly available
information is rarely illegal, there are other crimes that doxxers can be
charged for such as stalking, harassment, identity theft, or incitement to
violence.