Doxing
Definition
Doxing is the deliberate collection, publication, or distribution of someone’s personal information without their consent, with the aim of causing harm, intimidating, pressuring, or frightening them. This can include names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, workplaces, family details, photos, or other traceable information.
Explanation of doxing
The term doxing is derived from “docs,” a reference to documents containing personal information. What starts with collecting data online often ends in public exposure. Doxing usually takes place via social media, forums, chat groups, or websites, and is regularly used as a means of power in conflicts, arguments, or ideological disagreements.
Within BDSM and kink contexts, doxing is a particularly serious problem. Many people operate partially anonymously in the scene because of work, family, social position, or safety. Publicizing someone’s kink or BDSM activities can have far-reaching consequences, such as loss of work, damage to relationships, social exclusion, or threats.
Means of blackmail
Doxing is sometimes used as a means of punishment, blackmail, or revenge, for example after a relationship has ended, a conflict over consent, or rejection. Precisely because BDSM revolves around trust and vulnerability, doxing can have a deeply traumatizing impact.
It is important to emphasize that doxing is not freedom of expression, but a form of transgressive behavior. In many countries, including the Netherlands and Belgium, doxing can be punishable by law, especially when it leads to threats, stalking, or intimidation.
Safety & points of attention
Protection against doxing starts with being mindful about how you handle personal information. This includes separating private and scene accounts, limiting recognizable photos, and being careful about who has access to sensitive data. Trust grows in steps, not all at once.
Within BDSM dynamics, it is essential to explicitly agree on how privacy will be handled. Sharing information about someone’s identity, preferences, or experiences without consent is always unacceptable, even when a dynamic ends or emotions run high.
Dominants and professionals have an additional responsibility. Power, information, and trust should never be used as leverage. Doxing is contrary to everything consensual BDSM stands for: voluntariness, safety, and respect.
Victims of doxing are not alone. Recording evidence, involving platform administrators, and taking legal action where necessary can help limit further damage. Shame or silence often works in the perpetrator’s favor, not the victim’s.
Related terms doxing
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