Doxxing

What is identity information?

Identity information is information that identifies you, or appears to identify you.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• your name;

• residential address;

• email address;

• telephone number;

• date of birth;

• NRIC number or passport number;

• signature, whether handwritten or electronic;

• password or identification code;

• any photograph or video recording of you; or

• information about your family, employment or education.

Identity information may identify you on its own, or when combined with other information.

What makes something doxxing?

The key question is why the identity information was published.

It is doxxing if a reasonable person would conclude that the publication was likely intended to cause harassment, alarm, distress or humiliation.

For example, if someone publishes a person’s residential address in an online group and says the person should “watch out” because everyone now knows where they live, this is likely to be doxxing.

In contrast, publishing a person's name for a legitimate purpose, such as a news report about a crime, is unlikely to be doxxing.

What if the post says it is whistleblowing or meant to warn others against a wrongdoer?

A post is not doxxing just because it names someone or publishes identity information.

At the same time, a post does not stop being doxxing just because it is framed as a warning, complaint or act of whistleblowing.

The question is what a reasonable person would conclude from the post and the surrounding circumstances. Is the post intended to cause harassment, alarm, distress or humiliation?

For example, a post is less likely to be doxxing if it raises a concern about alleged wrongdoing in a measured way, and only publishes information needed to explain the concern.

It is more likely to be doxxing if it goes beyond this, for example, by publishing the person’s home address or family’s whereabouts, or by using language that appears intended to shame, threaten or expose the person to harassment, alarm, distress or humiliation.

Who can be a victim of doxxing?

You may be a victim if your identity information was published.

You may also be a victim if the identity information of someone related to you was published, and a reasonable person would conclude that this was likely intended to cause you harassment, alarm, distress or humiliation.

Unsure whether this applies to you?

You do not need to work this out alone. You can speak to our community partners for support. They can help you understand what help may be available, and what steps you can take next. Find out more here.