The Albanese government is planning new legislation targeting the online harassment tactic known as ‘doxing’. 

The new laws come amidst growing concerns over the malicious sharing of personal information online without consent, which has increased in recent years.

Attorney General Mark Dreyfus says the government intends to not only create a right to sue for serious privacy invasions but also to establish a criminal offence specifically addressing doxing. 

Doxing - sometimes spelled ‘doxxing’ - can manifest in various forms, such as de-anonymising individuals, targeted approaches that makes someone easily locatable or compromises their online security, and de-legitimising doxing that harms someone's reputation by revealing sensitive information. 

These acts can lead to severe repercussions for victims, including public humiliation, stalking, identity theft, and professional disadvantages.

The push for this legislation stems from recommendations made by the attorney general’s department in early 2023 to amend privacy laws.

This was partly in response to the widespread sharing of private conversations among Jewish writers and artists, sparking a call for action from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

The proposal has already been met with criticism. 

Experts including Dr Jennifer Beckett from the University of Melbourne caution against potential overreach, especially concerning de-legitimising doxing, which could inadvertently affect the exposure of criminal or hypocritical behaviour. 

Beckett also raises concerns about the potential for such legal actions to become “a rich person’s game”, favouring those with the resources to pursue litigation.

Globally, the fight against doxing presents complex challenges. 

Countries like The Netherlands have already taken legal steps against it, but the effectiveness of such laws remains to be seen, especially given the difficulties in enforcing legislation across the vast and jurisdictionally fragmented landscape of the internet.

Australia’s public consultation on doxing and privacy reforms will run until 28 March 2024.