What is doxxing?
Doxxing (also spelled “doxing”) is when someone publicly shares your personal info—like your full name, address, phone number, or workplace—without your permission, usually to harass, intimidate, or embarrass you. The term comes from “dropping docs” (documents), a hacker-era slang from the ’90s.
Why does doxxing matter?
Doxxing isn’t just online drama—it can have serious real-world consequences. Once your personal info is out there, you could face:
- Harassment and threats (including swatting, where police are falsely sent to your address)
- Damage to your reputation, job, or business
- Identity theft, stalking, or financial loss
- Severe stress, anxiety, even trauma
For anyone using social media—whether you’re a private individual, influencer, or activist—it’s important to understand the risks and how to protect yourself.
Who usually gets doxxed—and why?
- Everyday users: About 4% of Americans say they’ve been doxxed; 50% worry about it happening.
- Public figures, journalists, activists: They can become targets due to controversial posts, protests, or hot-button issues.
- Fan backlash: Even celebrities’ fans sometimes doxx critics, as seen with backlash to Nicki Minaj’s trolls.
Motivations vary: revenge, intimidation, online shaming—or even vigilantism (people claiming to “expose” wrongdoing).
How does doxxing actually happen?
- Gather info: Doxxers combine public records, social profiles, breadcrumbs from photos/posts.
- Uncover hidden details: They might use hacking, data brokers, or “social engineering” (tricking someone into revealing info).
- Publish it: This could be on social media, forums, leaked spreadsheets, or dedicated doxxing sites.
Once your info is out there, it’s nearly impossible to fully remove it—so prevention is key.
Is doxxing illegal?
- Varies by region:
- In places like Germany, the Netherlands, and South Korea, doxxing is specifically criminalized.
- In Australia, new laws target doxxing after high-profile incidents.
- In the U.S., federal laws against stalking and harassment can apply, but often fall short; some states (e.g., California, Texas) have specific protections.
So yes—it can be illegal, but enforcement varies widely. That’s why many social platforms have policies against it.
What should you do if you get doxxed?
- Document everything: Take screenshots, note URLs, dates, and times.
- Report it: Notify the platform where it happened right away.
- Protect yourself: Consider changing your address or phone number, tightening privacy settings, and in serious cases, law enforcement.
- Seek support: Talk to trusted friends, mental-health pros, or legal advisors—this can be traumatic.
Tips to prevent doxxing
- Limit what you share: Think twice before posting personal details or location tags.
- Lock down privacy settings: Keep your profile details visible only to people you trust.
- Adjust geo-features: Turn off location tagging on photos.
- Use strong, unique passwords: And add two-factor authentication anywhere possible.
- Google yourself: If you find unexpected info, take steps to remove it or make it private.
By understanding doxxing—what it is, how it happens, and why it matters—you’re better equipped to stay safe online. It’s all about protecting your privacy, your peace of mind, and your sense of security in the digital world.