The Australian government has announced plans to outlaw the practice of doxxing, following an incident where pro-Palestinian activists published personal information of hundreds of Jewish people in Australia without their consent. The proposed laws, which are yet to be drafted, aim to issue take-down notices to social media platforms and impose fines as a deterrent to this form of intimidation.
The move by the Australian government comes in response to recent reports by Nine Entertainment news, which revealed that pro-Palestinian activists had released the names, images, professions, and social media accounts of Jewish individuals working in academia and creative industries. The leaked information originated from a private WhatsApp group formed by Jewish writers, artists, musicians, and academics, and comprised nearly 900 pages of transcript. A spreadsheet containing personal details of around 600 people who were allegedly members of the group was also circulated.
Critics of the activists argue that this incident goes beyond mere doxxing, as they claim the leaked information shed light on an organized effort to target and punish Palestinian activists and their supporters. However, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus maintains that the publication of personal details without consent is considered doxxing and needs to be addressed.
While the exact details of the proposed legislation have not been provided, Dreyfus emphasized that the new laws would bolster protections against hate speech. He expressed deep concern over the increasing practice of using online platforms to harm individuals through doxxing, referring to the recent targeting of members of the Australian Jewish community as a shocking example of this trend. Dreyfus, who is Jewish himself, highlighted that these incidents are not isolated and called for stronger measures to protect the multicultural society of Australia.
The decision to outlaw doxxing has been welcomed by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which represents the country's Jewish community. The council's president, Daniel Aghion, expressed willingness to collaborate with the government in order to better understand the extent of the harm caused by doxxing and to ensure that the new laws effectively safeguard Australians from this 'shameful and dangerous practice.'
Although the idea of legislation against doxxing has received support from experts and advocacy groups, concerns have been raised about the enforcement of such laws. Nigel Phair, a cybersecurity expert from Monash University, acknowledged the importance of the law but expressed doubts regarding its practical implementation. Phair pointed out that policing agencies often lack access to necessary data to effectively enforce such laws and suggested that social media companies should bear greater responsibility in preventing and addressing doxxing incidents.
It remains to be seen how the Australian government will proceed with the drafting of the proposed laws and how they will overcome the challenges associated with enforcement. Nevertheless, the recognition of the harmful impact of doxxing and the commitment to protect vulnerable individuals from such malicious practices represent significant steps in ensuring online safety and promoting a multicultural society in Australia.
