Navigating an online environment can sometimes feel like sifting through a cesspool of toxicity. While not everyone is out to get you, there are bad actors who can sometimes be dangerous, and harassment can take many forms.<\/p>
One of the most common, yet impactful, forms of harassment is referred to as \u201cdoxxing.\u201d The term stems from the phrase \u201cdropping dox\u201d with \u201cdox\u201d being short for \u201cdocuments,\u201d and it can frequently lead to real-life consequences for those being harassed.<\/p>
By publicizing other people\u2019s information, doxxing can lead to stalking, break-ins, and swatting. Especially in the streaming sphere, doxxing is a vehicle for the larger issue of swatting<\/a>, which has victimized many of Twitch\u2019s most high-profile creators.<\/p>
What\u2019s doxxing?<\/strong><\/h2> When someone wants to bring an individual\u2019s private information to the public, they suggest doxxing. Dictionary Merriam-Webster<\/a> adds that this act is especially used \u201cas a form of punishment or revenge.\u201d<\/p>
Is doxxing legal?<\/strong><\/h2> Doxxing is an illegal act in the U.S. if it\u2019s used to harass or intimidate someone to any extent, according to law firm Brickfield & Donahue<\/a>. For these purposes, it\u2019s irrelevant if the information is publicly available or not. When a person is doxxed for any other reason, if the doxxer used illegal methods of obtaining private information, it also becomes illegal. Similarly, the act of swatting can be punishable by law.\u00a0<\/p>
Can game companies take action against doxxers?<\/strong><\/h2> Game companies like Blizzard mention targeted harassment in their End User License Agreements, which can include doxxing. Blizzard specifically says<\/a> it \u201cmay suspend or revoke your license\u201d to play its games online if you\u2019re involved in harassment or violation of laws.<\/p>
Streaming platforms like Twitch also have policies in place that prohibit behaviors like doxxing and swatting. The behavior is prohibited in the Twitch community guidelines<\/a> and the platform even has tips for how users can protect themselves against both forms of harassment.\u00a0<\/p>
Doxxing is an illegal act in the U.S. if it\u2019s used to harass or intimidate someone to any extent, according to law firm Brickfield & Donahue<\/a>. For these purposes, it\u2019s irrelevant if the information is publicly available or not. When a person is doxxed for any other reason, if the doxxer used illegal methods of obtaining private information, it also becomes illegal. Similarly, the act of swatting can be punishable by law.\u00a0<\/p>
