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.

Another victim was a political activist whose personal data was distributed in a digital post. The news also mentioned a reporter of Kumparan.com who received a threat after the media company worked published a special coverage on certain party.

Doxing involves more than hacking, because after obtaining data through hacking an account, the perpetrators edit (alter) it and then disseminate it on social media with an intent to slander the individual.

We appreciate the Annual Report of the Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI), which detected the emergence of this new digital threat two years ago. The fact that organizations such as AJI had recognized the phenomenon much earlier is understandable, considering that activists and journalists are among the most vulnerable, even though anyone can become a victim of doxing.

Responding to the growing practice of doxing, University of Indonesia communication lecturer Endah Triastuti believes there is a need to think about protecting workers in the media industry. Meanwhile, LIPI researcher Ibn Nadzir Daraini takes a stronger stance on doxing, viewing it is an act that silences freedom of speech if it targets activists and journalists. If it targets ordinary citizens, it can be interpreted as harassment.

The rising phenomenon shows that we are witnessing a new ability in the use of information technology. Ordinary people and those who work in vulnerable fields, such as journalism or advocacy, need to increase their vigilance, and the authorities need to be proactive in taking firm and swift action in cases of doxing.

We realize that the advancement of technology is always double-edged, and those who use it must find clever ways to minimize its negative potentials.