Alabama House Bill HB532

Alabama 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/31/22
• Refer: 3/31/22

Caption

Doxing, crime of created, penalties

Impact

The inclusion of doxing as a criminal offense may have significant implications for state laws surrounding harassment and privacy. By categorizing doxing as a Class A misdemeanor for first offenses and a Class D felony for subsequent violations, HB532 establishes a legal framework aimed at deterring such actions. It is noted that the bill conforms to the stipulations set by Alabama's Constitution concerning local governmental expenditures, as it is classified under the exceptions due to its nature of defining new criminal conduct.

Summary

House Bill 532 aims to create a new crime known as doxing, which involves the intentional electronic publication of personal identifying information of another individual with the intent for that information to be used to harass or harm them. This bill specifically addresses the circumstances under which such acts are deemed criminal, setting forth penalties for offenders. It seeks to enhance protections for individuals, particularly public servants such as law enforcement officers and firefighters, against harassment that can arise from the public dissemination of their personal information.

Contention

While supporters of HB532 may argue that this legislation is critical in the digital age to protect individuals from harassment and potential harm facilitated by the easy access to sensitive information online, there are concerns regarding the bill's vagueness and the potential for misuse. Opponents may contend that the broad definitions of personal identifying information and the circumstances under which doxing occurs could lead to criminalizing legitimate expressions of free speech or information sharing, raising questions about the balance between safety and freedom in the digital landscape.