Forum:So, let's discuss doxxing

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In an era where things like Gamergate seem to dominate the Wiki (whether you like it or not), and an era where doxxing is used as an intimidation tactic against people on the internet, I thought it might be a good time for the website to discuss doxxing. Specifically, we as a website community should come up with 1) a definition of doxxing we apply to edits 2) different levels of severity for doxxing infractions (if any) and 3) from those, a uniform policy on how doxxing is to be handled. This isn't just a "block the doxxer" sort of thing, but we're talking things like, for example, if User posts an editor's real name. do we rev. delete it and to what level? What sort of punishment should be leveled against User? Does that same standard apply to phone numbers and addresses, or should a separate standard apply, with more serious consequences? Should doxxing information be added to abuse filters to prevent it from being re-posted? Do we need a Coop case for leaked information, or will moderator/sysop action suffice? So, let's start this discussion. Gooniepunk (talk) 04:29, 18 December 2015 (UTC)

I expect to get shit on by Ryulong et al for this, but if the person in question has a pseudonym and/or real name, in the public domain due to a level of celebrity (i.e. - covered in the news), and that information is pertinent to discussing their history (i.e. - before their transition, Catilyn Jenner was named Bruce Jenner when they were a winner of the Olympics), then I would consider it acceptable. If it's something completely unconfirmed or not in any way tied to their public persona and thus not a matter of public interest or discussion, then it should remain verboten. As for any editor here, not allowed at all unless they choose to release that information or unless they fall under the first condition, where their psuedonym/real name has been covered in the news or they edit here under their real name by default (i.e. - David Gerard). Anything done out of obvious spite/bad faith, even if under acceptable guidelines otherwise, that should still not be allowed. Arcane (talk) 04:43, 18 December 2015 (UTC)

It's difficult to make sweeping generalisations because so often it's an argument between two sides who swear blind that any details they drop isn't doxing, but any details the other side drop is. A frequent defense I see around the internet is "he doxed himself" if the information was already publicly available through google but in 99.9% of the cases that's how you go about doxing people. You just google them and post what you find. In simple terms I'd define doxing as 'collating and distributing any personal information without the consent of the target', with some obvious exceptions such as firms and businesses that clearly want their contact information disseminated. I suppose there's also excuses to make for known frauds, scammers and trolls using false identities, but that seems a complicated issue that bears more thinking about. As for severity of dox, some people make the mistake of posting information which they falsely assumed was public knowledge, without malicious intent. It happens, and a case-by-case judgement might be needed. I'd say as a general rule we could split it into three tiers of severity ; the first being harmless internet footprint stuff, other places the person posts at etc., with the caveat that nothing posted is clearly and obviously meant as an attempt to humiliate and embarrass them (ie. porn or fetish sites.) Second tier would be personal information, realworld location, name, etc. and internet footprints that make a clear and obvious attempt to humiliate or incriminate. Third tier would be contact information, phone numbers, street addresses, etc. SS numbers and bank details and etc. would go past the level of 'doxing' and into fullblown identity theft afaik. I'm new here and haven't lurked that long so I don't feel qualified to comment on how seriously you'd wanna take these offences, except to say it should be uniform. Seriously (talk) 04:46, 18 December 2015 (UTC)

When doxing happens the last thing to do is make a big deal about it because that only draws attention and leads to other independent doxing incidents and it lets everyone know that the information was correct. 99.9% of the time doxing happens the victim says that it was "incorrect." It's for that reason I don't buy the whole spiel about innocent people being frequently targeted. Doxing is still abhorrent and everyone it happens to is a victim regardless of whether the information is "correct." We'd have to have a rule that anything that could be unintended personal information must be treated as dox. Any information that isn't very blatantly made public on the user's own page should be treated as dox because otherwise you fall into the trap that "they made it public." You'd be surprised how many people think they can use the same handle on Twitter and not have it picked out from their other accounts. Aleksandra96 (talk) 22:02, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

Gentlemen!

The gentlemen at a rather liberal website want to discuss posting of information in regards to real names of internet users. Bicycle^wheel 20:51, 19 December 2015 (UTC)

To be fair, sone of us may also be women. Gooniepunk (talk) 07:31, 21 December 2015 (UTC)

I'm kind of avoiding this discussion because right now is not the time to have it with all the bad faith gator accounts running amok. Maybe it's just a thing that should be discussed between mods. - Kitsunelaine ^{「Beware. The foxgirls are coming.」} 07:41, 21 December 2015 (UTC)

Or any of willing to use email, in email chains. I'm in touch with several editors on this matter. Everything we say here is serving as fodder for their RW soap opera and announcements of addresses, plans to harass David Gerard's wife, to dox Queex and on and on. So, we should back channel this.---Mona- (talk) 07:46, 21 December 2015 (UTC)

For the record, it is an ongoing e-mail discussion, I just had to seize the occasion to respond to smartassry with more smartassry. Gooniepunk (talk) 07:49, 21 December 2015 (UTC)

Yeah, I've been in touch with a couple mods over this as well. I think this topic is just pouring more oil on the garbage fire. - Kitsunelaine ^{「Beware. The foxgirls are coming.」} 07:54, 21 December 2015 (UTC)