FROM THE PRATTVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Another round of new laws will come into effect as of September 1 and the PPD would like to continue to educate folks on these laws so as to not “surprise” someone if they fall afoul of the new legislation. This entry into the “New Laws that Some on the Internet Probably Won’t Like” involves releasing someone’s personal identifying information (PII) with the intent that others will use that information for harassment or harmful purposes. The term for this that most of who use the Internet would know this as “doxing”, which is what the law is titled as. Essentially if you post someone’s name, address, phone number, date of birth, place of employment, etc. for the purpose of others to harass or do bodily harm to that person and that person is actually harassed, then could be catching a charge. This includes someone posting another’s PII with the caption “Do with it what you will” or something similar, knowing what the information will be used for. First time is a Class A misdemeanor, second or subsequent is a Class C felony.
New Crime of Doxing – Act 2023-369 (HB287; Rep. Stringer, et al.)
This Act creates the crime of doxing which an individual commits if he or she does either of the following: (1) intentionally electronically publishes, posts, or provides personal identifying information of another individual, with the intent that others will use that information to harass or harm that other individual, and the other individual is actually harassed or harmed; or (2) intentionally electronically publishes, posts, or provides personal identifying information of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or public servant, with the intent that others will use that information to harass, harm, or impede the duties of that law enforcement officer, firefighter, or public servant, and the law enforcement officer, firefighter, or public servant is actually harassed, harmed, or impeded from performing his or her governmental function. A violation of the above is a Class A misdemeanor, and a second or subsequent violation is a Class C felony.
– Link to the Act: https://arc-sos.state.al.us/ucp/L1274815.AI1.pdf (make sure to copy/paste this into a browser, redirect from FB might break the link)
We know the Internet can be a free-for-all regarding personal attacks between people, that’s how most YouTubers, SnapChat, TikTok and Twitter/X users gain their following with constant drama/tea/beef/etc. updates. However, bringing that toxic vitriol into the real world can cause some real problems and put people in physical danger. Law enforcement deals with this type of behavior all the time, thanks to social media (looking at kids of junior high and high school age especially). Another version of doxing called “swatting” has caused innocent people to real harm, even death, because someone thought it was a good idea to be jerk online or for the “lols”. Let’s keep the Internet spats on the Internet and not in real life.
As always, call us if you should need us.
