Res. No. 461
Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation establishing the crime of doxing of an individual where a person knowingly makes restricted personal information about an individual publicly available with certain intent
By Council Members Farías, De La Rosa, Hanif, Louis, Narcisse and Morano
Whereas, The right to privacy is a fundamental Constitutional principle essential to the safety, dignity, and security of all individuals, and the unauthorized disclosure of personal information can expose individuals to significant harm; and
Whereas, Cyberbullying occurs when an individual engages in bullying behavior toward another person through electronic technologies, including digital communication platforms and devices, and may involve repeated harassment, intimidation, or abuse conducted through online or electronic means; and
Whereas, The proliferation and growing prevalence of digital communications platforms and social media has made it increasingly easy for individuals to obtain, compile, and disseminate private personal information without consent; and
Whereas, The nature of cyberbullying can present a fine line in distinguishing between protected expression and conduct that constitutes harmful or abusive behavior; and
Whereas, Doxing is widely understood as the malicious act of publicly releasing or disseminating an individual’s private, personally identifiable information, including but not limited to home address, telephone number, email address, and other identifying data without consent; and
Whereas, Such conduct is frequently used to intimidate, harass, threaten, or endanger individuals, often resulting in real-world consequences that extend beyond the digital communications platforms, serving as a tool for personal retaliation and coercion rather than legitimate public interest or protected expression; and
Whereas, Doxing methods commonly include public data mining of sources such as voter registration records, marriage certificates, and real estate documents, as well as social media analysis of platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to identify personal details and associations, and may also involve hacking and social engineering techniques to obtain private information; and
Whereas, Victims of doxing may suffer severe harms, including stalking, harassment, identity theft, financial fraud, reputational damage, and emotional and psychological distress, as well as threats to personal safety; and
Whereas, In many instances, doxing also places family members, neighbors, and associates of the targeted individual at risk, thereby amplifying the scope of harm beyond the intended victim; and
Whereas, The intentional disclosure of restricted personal information can facilitate or incite criminal conduct, including acts of violence, harassment, or coordinated intimidation campaigns; and
Whereas, While some forms of information sharing may be protected expression or involve publicly available records, the malicious and intentional targeting of individuals through the publication of non-public or restricted personal information presents distinct and serious public safety concerns; and
Whereas, Current New York legal frameworks do not consistently address or define doxing as a standalone criminal offense in a manner that reflects its modern prevalence, methods, and harms in the digital age; and
Whereas, The absence of a clearly defined criminal statute specifically addressing doxing may limit the ability of law enforcement and prosecutors to effectively deter, investigate, and hold accountable individuals who engage in such conduct with harmful intent; and
Whereas, The New York State Legislature should propose legislation to establish the crime of doxing of an individual, including provisions that would define the offense as knowingly making restricted personal information about an individual publicly available with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or facilitate or incite the commission of a crime of violence against such individual, or with knowledge that such information will be used for such purposes; and
Whereas, The proposed legislation should classify doxing of an individual in the New York State Penal Law, thereby providing clear criminal penalties for conduct that deliberately endangers individuals through the malicious disclosure of private information; and
Whereas, Establishing a statutory criminal offense against doxing would strengthen protections for individuals’ privacy and safety while deterring conduct that facilitates harassment, intimidation, and potential violence; and
Whereas, Codifying the crime of doxing would also provide clearer guidance to law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts in addressing harmful conduct that arises from the misuse of digital platforms and online anonymity; and
Whereas, Protecting individuals from targeted harassment and the malicious publication of private information is important to maintaining public safety, encouraging civic participation, and preserving trust in digital communications environments; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation establishing the crime of doxing of an individual where a person knowingly makes restricted personal information about an individual publicly available with certain intent.
CMB
LS#23828
4/28/26