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Bill

S 1252

An Act establishing a right to freedom from doxing

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Becca Rausch

Massachusetts bill establishing legal protections and remedies against doxing—the non-consensual disclosure of private personal information to facilitate harassment or intimidation.

Hearing scheduled for 07/15/2025 from 01:00 PM-08:00 PM in A-2
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Bill Summary · S 1252

Legislative bill overview

S 1252 would establish legal protections against doxing—the practice of publicly releasing private personal information about an individual without consent, typically to facilitate harassment or intimidation. The bill creates a statutory right to freedom from doxing and likely provides remedies for victims, though specific enforcement mechanisms and penalties are not detailed in the available action history.

Why is this important

Doxing has become a prevalent form of online harassment that can escalate to real-world threats, harassment, and violence against targeted individuals. Creating statutory protections would provide legal recourse for victims and potentially deter the practice by establishing clear legal consequences, filling gaps in existing harassment and privacy law that may not adequately address coordinated information-sharing campaigns.

Potential points of contention

  • First Amendment concerns: Defining the boundaries between protected speech (journalism, public interest information) and illegal doxing disclosure will be legally contentious, requiring careful balancing of free speech rights against privacy protections.
  • Enforcement and proof challenges: Determining who bears responsibility when information is shared across multiple platforms or jurisdictions, and how to prove intent or knowledge that disclosure would cause harm, presents practical enforcement difficulties.
  • Scope definition: Questions about what constitutes "private" information, whether publicly available data can be redoxed, and whether the law applies equally to public figures, activists, and private citizens could significantly affect the bill's impact and constitutionality.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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