Understanding and Preventing Doxxing

Doxxing is a malicious act where personal information, such as your address and telephone number, is published online by others, often inviting online harassment. This intrusive act can lead to severe emotional distress and privacy violations.

Why Should We Be Concerned?

When your personal information is made public alongside false accusations, it can lead to severe harassment and invasion of privacy. The humiliation and stress caused by doxxing can result in lasting social stigma and psychological trauma.

Warning Signs of Being Affected by Doxxing

• Signs of anxiety, depression, mood swings, and strong reactions
• Feeling anxious and stressed when checking your phone
• Isolating yourself and behaving secretively

How Can We Safeguard Ourselves Against Doxxing?

Doxxing can be a nightmare, tarnishing your social and public image with malicious rumors. To protect yourself from such incidents, consider these measures:

1. Protect Your Personal Information

   • Avoid sharing personal details like your address, mobile number, and personal email ID online.

2. Use Strong Security Measures

   • Implement two-factor authentication with strong, unique passwords for different social media accounts.

3. Use a VPN

   • A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can encrypt your data and protect your IP address while using the internet.

4. Save Evidence

   • Take screenshots and save any evidence related to the incident for future reference.

Actions to Take if Affected by Doxxing

1. Report to Authorities

   • Register a complaint at your nearest cyber crime police station.
   • File an anonymous complaint online at cybercrime.gov.in.

2. Report to Social Media Platforms

   • Inform the help center of the relevant social media platform about the incident.

Legal Recourse

In India, while there is no specific law against doxxing, several legal provisions can be applied to address it:

• Indian Penal Code (IPC)

  • Section 354D: Addresses stalking, including online harassment.
  • Section 509: Punishes acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman.
  • Section 292: Deals with obscene content.
  • Section 499: Addresses defamation.

• Information Technology Act

  • Section 67: Punishes the publication or transmission of obscene material in electronic form.

• Right to Privacy and Dignity

  • Doxxing violates the Right to Privacy and threatens the Right to Dignity under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, emphasizing the need for doxxing to be criminalized.