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Laws being introduced to federal parliament by Labor on September 12, 2024, will move to outlaw doxxing.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is set to present the legislation – which outlines that the new proposed crime of doxxing would be punishable by up to seven years in jail for targeting someone for their race, religion or sexuality.
Ahead of introducing the ‘Doxxing Bill’, Mr Dreyfus explained that the new laws would also strengthen online protection and give people greater control over their personal information.
“Australians have a right to have their privacy respected, and when they are asked to hand over their personal data, they have a right to expect it will be protected,” he said.
But what is doxxing? We’ve answered any and all doxxing questions you may have below.
What does doxing someone mean?
Doxxing (or doxing; both spellings are correct) refers to the act of publicly sharing someone’s personal information without their permission.
What is an example of doxing?
An example of doxxing would be if two people got into an argument on social media and one of them posted the other’s personal details – like their home address and/or phone number – publicly to embarrass them or to encourage others to harass them.
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Is doxing illegal in Australia?
Currently in Australia, doxxing can be illegal depending on the circumstances.
Sharing someone’s private information without their consent, especially if it leads to harassment, intimidation or threats, can violate privacy laws or anti-harassment laws.
For example, doxxing could breach the Privacy Act 1988 or result in criminal charges if it’s used to cause harm or fear.
However, the legal consequences do depend on the specific actions and intent behind the doxxing.
Of course, as aforementioned, this will all change with Labor’s new Doxxing Bill and doxxing will soon become a criminal offence.
Can you prevent being doxxed?
While it’s not always possible to completely prevent being doxxed, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk:
- Limit personal information online: Avoid sharing details like your home address, phone number or workplace on social media or public websites.
- Use privacy settings: Adjust the privacy settings on your social media accounts to restrict who can see your posts and personal details.
- Use strong passwords: Secure your online accounts with strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication for extra protection.
- Be cautious with public records: Some websites or services may have access to public information, so you can request removal of personal details from these sites where possible.
- Monitor your online presence: Regularly search for your name online to see what information is publicly available about you.
