Is doxxing illegal? Sometimes. There is no federal law against doxxing by name, but federal stalking and threat laws can apply, and a growing number of states have laws written for it. Whether it is a crime depends on three things: what was shared, why it was shared, and where you live.
This guide explains the US federal laws, examples of state laws, where free speech limits them, and what you can do if you are a victim. If you need the basics first, read our guide on what doxxing is and how it works.
Key facts
- No federal law makes doxxing a crime by name. Stalking, threat and harassment laws can still apply.
- Some states have doxxing laws. Others use harassment or stalking laws. The number of states differs by source and keeps changing.
- Sharing true, public information is often protected speech. Threats, incitement and harassment are not.
- Victims can sometimes sue as well as report to the police.
Last updated October 26, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so check the current law for your state.
Is Doxxing Illegal? The Short Answer
It depends on the facts. Posting someone’s home address is not automatically a crime. It becomes a problem when it is done to threaten, harass or stalk someone, or when it targets people the law protects, such as judges or police officers. Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute puts it plainly: there is no comprehensive federal law that makes doxxing a crime.
So prosecutors usually use other laws. Many cases are handled under state harassment, stalking or threat laws, even when the law never uses the word “doxxing.”
Federal Laws That Can Apply to Doxxing
| Law | What it covers | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| 18 U.S.C. § 2261A | Federal stalking and cyberstalking law | A pattern of online conduct that causes fear or serious emotional distress, which can include doxxing |
| 18 U.S.C. § 119 | Publishing restricted personal information about certain protected people, such as federal officials, jurors, witnesses, and their families | When it is done with intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite violence |
| 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) | Threats sent across state lines | When a doxxing post or message includes a threat to hurt someone |
| Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act (2022) | Protects federal judges and their families | Limits judges’ personal information in federal databases and restricts data aggregators from reselling it, as described by the US Courts |
Congress has seen proposals for a general federal doxxing law, but none have passed in the sources we checked. Most of the federal laws above are narrow. They cover threats, stalking, or protected groups, not everyone.
State Doxxing Laws
State law is where most doxxing cases land, and it is a patchwork. According to the Council of State Governments, as reported by CybelAngel, Alabama, California, and Illinois had laws that define doxxing by name as of mid-2025, and about 14 more states had laws covering similar conduct without using the word. Other sources count differently, and new laws keep passing, so treat any count as a rough guide.
State laws tend to fall into three groups:
- Laws that name doxxing, often with a civil lawsuit or a criminal charge.
- Harassment and stalking laws that cover doxxing when it is part of a pattern of abuse.
- Laws that protect specific people, such as judges, police officers, or abuse victims.
Here are some examples. This is a sample, not a full list.
| State | Example law | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Code of Alabama § 13A-11-38 | Publishing someone’s personal information so others will harass or harm them, when the person is actually harassed or harmed. Has a section for police officers and firefighters. |
| California | Penal Code § 653.2 | Electronic cyber harassment. Also see Government Code § 7928.205 on officials’ home addresses. |
| Illinois | Civil Liability for Doxing Act (Public Act 103-0439) | Lets victims bring a civil lawsuit over doxxing. |
| Washington | State code chapter 4.24 | Defines doxxing as publishing personal information with intent, knowledge, or reckless disregard that it will be used to harm the person. |
| Oregon | HB 3047 (2021) | Bars certain publications of personal information when the publisher knows the person will be stalked, harassed, or injured. |
| Colorado | C.R.S. § 18-9-313 | A misdemeanor to knowingly make a protected person’s personal information available online if it poses a threat to them or their family. |
| New Jersey | Daniel’s Law | Protects the home addresses and phone numbers of judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers. |
Your state may have a law that is not on this list. Search for your state’s name plus “doxxing law” on your legislature’s website, or ask your state attorney general’s office.
When Sharing Someone’s Information Is Legal
The First Amendment protects a lot of speech, including rude or hurtful speech. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) explains that anti-doxxing laws can collide with free speech, especially when they punish the publication of true, lawfully obtained information.
Speech that is usually protected:
- Posting true information that came from a public record
- Reporting by journalists on matters of public interest
- Naming public officials and describing what they do in their official jobs
Speech that is not protected:
- True threats. In Counterman v. Colorado (2023), the Supreme Court held that prosecutors must show the speaker understood their words were threatening. Recklessness is enough.
- Incitement to immediate lawless action
- Harassment and stalking that go beyond just sharing information
Courts take the free speech limits seriously. In DeHart v. Tofte (2023), the Oregon Court of Appeals threw out a doxxing claim brought by school board members over posts about their employers. The court treated it as a lawsuit aimed at punishing speech on a public issue.
What Makes Doxxing Illegal?
The facts that usually matter most:
- A threat. The post or message threatens violence or invites others to harm someone.
- Intent to harass or intimidate. The goal is to scare or hurt the person, not to inform the public.
- A pattern. Repeated messages, calls, visits, or posts.
- A protected target. Judges, police officers, jurors, witnesses, and abuse victims often get extra legal protection.
- Illegal access. The information was stolen by hacking, phishing, or other unlawful access.
- Extortion. Someone demands money or something else to keep the information private.
Can You Sue Someone for Doxxing?
Sometimes. A criminal case is brought by the state, but you may also have a civil claim of your own. Depending on your state and the facts, options can include:
- A lawsuit under a state doxxing law, such as Illinois’ Civil Liability for Doxing Act
- A claim for public disclosure of private facts, a type of privacy lawsuit for sharing truly private information that would be highly offensive to a reasonable person and is not of legitimate public concern
- Claims for harassment or emotional distress
- A protective or restraining order, if you are being stalked or threatened
Civil cases can be slow and costly, and free speech defenses are common. Talk to a lawyer before you decide.
What Happens If You Dox Someone?
Posting someone’s details to harass them is risky. Depending on the facts and the state, you could face:
- Criminal charges, which can bring fines or jail time
- A civil lawsuit for damages
- A ban from the platform
- Discipline at work or school
Even if you are not charged, a doxxing post can follow you. It can also put the person you named in real danger.
What to Do If You Have Been Doxxed
- If you are in danger, call 911.
- Save proof. Take screenshots showing page addresses, dates, and times, and save threatening messages.
- Report it to the platform. Most sites ban posting private information.
- Make a police report, especially if there are threats, and ask how your state’s laws apply.
- Talk to a lawyer about criminal, civil, and protective-order options.
- Report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center if it involves cybercrime.
- Cut off the source. Remove your listings from people-search sites. Our guide on how to remove your information from the internet shows how.
For a longer checklist, see our doxxing guide.
Is Doxxing Illegal? FAQ
Is doxxing a federal crime?
Not by name. No federal law makes doxxing a crime for everyone. Federal stalking, threat, and protected-person laws can apply in some cases.
Is it illegal to share someone’s address?
Not always. Sharing a public address is often legal, for example, in news reporting. It becomes a problem when it comes with a threat, is part of harassment or stalking, or breaks a law that protects the person.
Is doxing illegal if the information is already public?
It can be. Public information can still be used to harass or threaten someone. Courts look at intent, the pattern of conduct and the result, not just whether the information was available somewhere.
Can you go to jail for doxxing someone?
Yes, in some cases. Penalties depend on the state, the law used, and the harm caused. Threats and stalking are taken seriously in every state.
Is doxxing a public official illegal?
Officials get no special immunity from criticism, but some laws give extra protection to certain officials and their families. Naming an official and describing public work is usually protected speech. Publishing a home address with intent to threaten is not.
How do I find out if doxxing is illegal in my state?
Search your state legislature’s website for “doxxing,” “doxing,” “harassment,” and “stalking,” or ask your state attorney general’s office or a local lawyer.
Bottom Line
Is doxxing illegal? It can be. The law depends on the facts, the state, and whether threats, stalking, or protected people are involved. If you are being doxxed, save proof, report it, and get legal advice. If you are tempted to post someone’s details, don’t.
Sources
- Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute, Doxxing
- 18 U.S. Code § 2261A, § 119 and § 875
- US Courts, Congress Passes the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act
- FIRE (David L. Hudson Jr.), Is doxxing illegal?
- Counterman v. Colorado, 600 U.S. 66 (2023)
- CybelAngel, US Doxxing Laws (summarizing Council of State Governments data)
- Illinois Public Act 103-0439; New Jersey Office of Information Privacy; California Government Code § 7928.205
[…] In the United States, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, codified at 18 U.S.C. 1030, makes unauthorized access to protected computers illegal. Intent mostly affects how serious the penalty is, not whether a crime occurred. That is why legitimate white hat work always starts with a signed contract. For a related legal topic, see our guide to whether doxxing is illegal. […]