Plugging Leaks

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Australia is planning to criminalize doxxing after a recent incident where pro-Palestinian activists published the personal details of hundreds of Australian Jews, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

Doxxing – also known as “dropping dox” or documents – is described as the unauthorized release of personal information, posing significant risks to victims’ privacy and safety.

On Tuesday, Attorney General Mark Dreyfus announced that the Labor government will introduce legislation empowering the authorities to issue take-down notices to social media platforms hosting such doxxed content and impose fines on perpetrators.

He added that the proposed law would strengthen rules against hate speech, but did not elaborate on how the legislation would work.

The bill’s proposal follows a report in local media that pro-Palestinian activists leaked the personal information, including the names, images, professions, and social media accounts, of Jewish individuals in academia and creative fields.

The leaked information came from a nearly 900-page transcript from a private WhatsApp group formed by Jewish professionals, along with a spreadsheet containing the personal details of almost 600 purported members.

The doxxing incident comes amid an increase in reports of antisemitism in Australia since Israel’s war with Hamas began in October.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which represents Australia’s Jewish community, welcomed the attorney general’s announcement.

However, some analysts expressed concerns about the practical enforcement of the new legislation, especially the ability of law enforcement to police online platforms effectively.