Is Doxing a Free Speech Issue?

Isn't part of the very definition of doxing that it's posting people's private information usually with malice, as the motivation? Doesn't sound ''free'' to me, sounds like someone will pay the price of their information floating out there for others to see.

 

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Both stalkers I have known have turned out to be ex-employees fired for stealing. One predates the Internet by many years and the other still sends offensive emails to me from time to time. The emails are an indication of a problem that might yet appear on my doorstep. It is a great comfort (to me) that I at least know who the second stalker is.

 

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Can you get a restraining order if it's done over the internet like that?

 

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You should certianly try.
By the time it shows up on your doorstep, it's too late.

Notify the police.

 

Thanks for the thought (and Wegs). I think it would be counterproductive - he'd take it as a challenge. By coincidence I unblocked all emails a few days ago so I may have missed a lot of crap from him over the last year or two. His latest (yesterday) was a link to a 'Get rich quick' site. I think he just wants to worry me - and is failing - blocked again.

On topic...
The 'right' to intimidate people anonymously doesn't seem to have much connection with free speech. On the other hand if you have a black person arguing with a bunch of white supremacists then publishing his address probably wouldn't aid the cause of free speech.

If all parties proceed knowing that doxing can happen then nobody should be able to complain if it does.

 

No, because doxxing is basically part of a (incitement to) a campaign to harass. That's why it can be criminal. That's way outside the lines of anything resembling civil discourse.

People express themselves to strangers on the Internet because pseudonyms protect them from being followed back to their homes. If doxxing is viewed as a legitimate tool then the views of those with thuggish associates will get disproportionate representation. Like winning elections by intimidating the opposition's potential voters.

Doxxing is antithetical to the principle that uncensored speech is good. It says if we don't what you say, we aren't going to censor your writing but target you personally for harassment and perhaps financial or physical vengeance.

 

I don't think an unenforceable 'law' gives any protection whatsoever.
Unenforceable why?
Victim>I've been doxxed by Lenny the Lion
Police>Who is Lenny the Lion?
Victim>I dunno.
Police>Maybe call us again when you do know.

 

Police>No problem. We will contact your ISP, who will certainly give us the identity of the criminal.

 

Police, 2 days later - well, turns out that Lenny the Lion isn't his real name, and he didn't use his correct name, email address or phone # in his registration. So sorry about that.

 

Alternatively Lenny the Lion loses his anonymity and Sammy the Seal slips round one night and sticks a knife in him.

 

Cyberstalking is not so unenforceable. http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Dennis_Markuze

 

I rest my case.

 

And to look at the hoped for 'clientele'...

I won't be 'expressing' myself there period. It seems doxxing would be run-of-the- mill there.

 

Maybe I'll be trolling there:

Donald Trump is better than Jesus!

 

I had to think for a moment there about where you were coming from... but yes, that kind of place.

 

I won't allow doxing, but I am hoping to pull in a generous mix of people and ideas.

 

I've thought about offering you an invitation.

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In practice, the police do not really care. Unless the person being harassed is an officer.

 

Why should I require an invitation?

 

I think this is an unsubstantiatable claim. When did the police stop caring about law enforcement? (rhetorical question)