The Complex Issue Of Privacy When On The Internet

The Oxford Dictionary defines doxing as "Searching for and publishing private or identifying information about a particular individual on the Internet, typically with malicious intent." The term, which was apparently coined by hackers, is derived from the abbreviation of the word "documents", i.e. "docs", due to the fact that the type of information published is often found in private documents.

Doxing is often undertaken in the name of vigilantism, being used as a means of enacting a form of justice against an enemy online. Other than having their privacy invaded, the person who is doxed is exposed to harassment by other online users; in fact, oftentimes the person doing the doxing encourages or incites the public to harass his or her target.