Tulane is committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all its community members. This includes summarizing community resources that may be applicable for subjects of doxing (or doxxing), which is the act of publicly revealing private and personal information without consent, often with malicious intent.
These resources reflect effective approaches to doxing and the measures to prevent and address incidents.
Definition:
Doxing refers to the unauthorized disclosure of personal information, such as addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and other private details, intending to harass, intimidate, or harm an individual.
Prohibited actions:
Community members should refrain from:
- Posting or sharing personal information of any member of the Tulane community or the public without explicit consent, with the intent to harass, intimidate, or harm an individual or group.
- Engaging in activities that lead to the identification of individuals without their permission, with the intent to harass, intimidate, or harm an individual or group.
- Encouraging doxing behaviors through university-affiliated platforms or events.
Reporting:
Members of the Tulane community who become aware of an incident of doxing are encouraged to report them promptly through our concerns portal (tulane.edu/concerns). Reports can be made anonymously if needed.
Investigation and enforcement:
The university will take appropriate steps to investigate reports promptly and take appropriate follow-up or remedial actions, as needed. This could include a range of responses, such as educational conferences or disciplinary measures in accordance with all university policies including the Student Code of Conduct, Faculty Handbook, and Staff Handbook.
Legal consequences
Doxing is not only a violation of university policies but may also have legal consequences, including civil and criminal proceedings.
Responsive actions:
If you or someone you know has been the target of doxing, you may wish to take the below actions to mitigate this issue.
- Request Takedowns: Promptly request the removal of false statements.
- Remove Abusive Content: Urge platforms and web domain registrars to remove abusive content.
- Document Abuse: Preserve evidence by documenting instances of abuse.
- Report to Law Enforcement: Report threats and criminal misconduct to law enforcement officials.
- Legal Advice: Seek legal advice regarding potential consequences and civil actions against individuals targeting you.
For questions about freedom of expression philosophy and protocols, please visit here.
**The text above references best practices from other universities, including Harvard, UC Berkeley, and Columbia, which all offer additional resources on this topic.
