What Makes Doxing Good or Bad? Exploring Bystanders’ Appraisal and Responses to the Malicious Disclosure of Personal Information

Abstract

Doxing, the disclosure of an individual’s personal information with malicious intent, has emerged as a global phenomenon aimed at punishing, threatening, or silencing individuals. The response from the public and media to doxing varies widely, ranging from condemning it as a harmful practice that disregards the fundamental right to privacy to regarding it as a means to hold wrongdoers accountable. However, research on how and why individuals observing a doxing incident (i.e., bystanders) form their opinions is scant. This study focuses on bystanders’ appraisal of and reactions to doxing incidents. Drawing on a qualitative vignette study (n=14) employing two doxing scenarios (person-based and issue-based), we identify crucial factors that influence bystanders’ evaluation of doxing attacks. Additionally, our research sheds light on the motivations and circumstances that prompt bystanders to take action when witnessing a doxing incident. The findings of this study have important implications for both research and practice.