The Rise of ‘Doxing’

Social and community developments have brought to light new, lesser known vocabulary. We frequently come across a new word these days: doxing.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

Taking a stand -- Members of the Sudah Dong Community hold what they called an "antibullying solidarity action" on Jl. MH Thamrin in Jakarta on Sunday (23/7/2017). The movement aims to educate the public to prevent harassment or bullying in various places and social media.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, “to dox” means “to search for and publish private or identifying information about (a particular individual) on the Internet, typically with malicious intent”. It provides an example sentence: "hackers and online vigilantes routinely dox both public and private figures".

In the media on Monday, an activist claimed to have fallen victim to doxing when two of photographs of him were edited to give the impression that he was naked. The edited photos were distributed on at least 76 Twitter accounts, three Instagram accounts and via Facebook, even though he had never uploaded the photos to social media. The original photographs were on his cell phone, and he had no idea how the perpetrator had gained access.