The Texas offense of Unlawful Disclosure Of Residence Address Or Telephone Number is the law criminalizing “Doxing.”

Doxing (also spelled “Doxxing”) is a popular type of cyberbullying that had its origins in the online gaming world. It mainly refers to sharing private information about an individual to online forums to get revenge or otherwise harm the victim.

The Texas Legislature passed a bill criminalizing doxing in 2023. The bill became effective on September 1, 2023. Learn more about the the new law passed by the Texas legislature below.

What is the current Texas law about Unlawful Disclosure Of Residence Address Or Telephone Number?

The current Texas law defines the offense of Unlawful Disclosure Of Residence Address Or Telephone Number in Penal Code Section §42.074 as follows:^[1]

(a) A person commits an offense if the person posts on a publicly accessible website the residence address or telephone number of an individual with the intent to cause harm or a threat of harm to the individual or a member of the individual’s family or household.

How can I be charged with the Doxing crime or Unlawful Disclosure Of Residence Address Or Telephone Number in Texas?

You can be charged with Unlawful Disclosure Of Residence Address Or Telephone Number if the state’s attorneys believe that each of the elements of 42.074 as described in the section above have been met.

What is the punishment for Doxxing in Texas?

Unlawful Disclosure Of Residence Address Or Telephone Number is punished as a either a Class B or a Class A misdemeanor, depending on the circumstances. The offense is a Class A misdemeanor if it results in the bodily injury of the doxing victim or any member of the doxing victim’s family or household, otherwise it is a Class B misdemeanor.^[2]

What is Doxing?

Doxing, short for “dropping dox,” originates from the an abbreviation of the word “documents.”^[3] It refers to the act of posting information about individuals or organizations to the public through the internet – information that people are usually trying to keep secret (for better or for worse). For instance, someone posting crazy things online could be doxxed as a way to force them out of obscurity in an effort to humiliate them into shutting up, but it is often done to harass someone or get revenge.

What Constitutes Doxing Under Texas Law?

There is no official Texas legal definition of “doxxing,” but this new offense was designed to target internet posts that disclose the residence address or telephone number of a person with the intent to cause harm or a threat of harm to the individual or a member of the individual’s family or household.

What are some Examples of Doxxing?

The criminal offense of Doxxing in Texas might include posting someone’s phone number or address on a web forum, but under this new law it does not include releasing personal photos of an individual, releasing information about an individual’s family, work or other private information, and encouraging others to use released information to harass an individual.

The highest-profile example was when 23 jurors in the Georgia prosecution of Donald Trump for RICO violations have had their personal information — including their names, ages, addresses and vehicle details —posted anonymously on conspiracy theory websites hosted by a Russian company as part of an effort to harass and intimidate them.^[4]

Is Doxing Illegal in Texas?

Not all commonly-understood practices of Doxxing are currently illegal under this new law. For instance, it does not include releasing personal photos of an individual, releasing information about an individual’s family, work or other private information, and encouraging others to use released information to harass an individual.

However, other laws may apply to those situations, such as Harassment, Stalking, Silent or Abusive Calls to 9-1-1 Service (also known as Swatting).

What Charges Can Stem from Doxing in Texas?

Doxing may be prosecuted under this new Unlawful Disclosure Of Residence Address Or Telephone Number law. This law makes it illegal to post an individual’s phone number or address on the Internet.

However, other laws may apply to those situations, such as Harassment, Stalking, Silent or Abusive Calls to 9-1-1 Service (also known as Swatting).

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Legal References:

^1. Texas Penal Code §42.074^2. Texas Penal Code §42.074(b)^3. “What is doxxing and what can you do if you are doxxed?” – CNN^4. Willis asks court to protect jurors after doxing in Trump’s Georgia case – Axios, September 7, 2023