TL;DR: Doxxing is sharing someone’s personal or identifying information without consent: full name, home address, workplace, phone number or family members’ details. In New Zealand, posting content that intentionally causes severe emotional distress can be illegal under the Harmful Digital Communications Act (HDCA). If it happens: report to the platform, lock down your profiles, warn family, and contact Netsafe (free, confidential). If you’re threatened or in danger, call 111.
What doxxing is
From Netsafe, doxxing is "sharing another person’s personal or identifying information without their consent." Doxxers often piece it together from public online content, but some hack accounts or guess passwords.
The law
Under the Harmful Digital Communications Act, sending messages or posting content that "intentionally causes severe emotional distress" can be illegal. Netsafe can explain your options under the HDCA.
The penalties
According to Community Law, section 22 of the HDCA makes it an offence to post a digital communication with intent to cause harm where it causes serious emotional distress, judged against what an ordinary reasonable person in your position would feel.
| Who | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
| An individual | 2 years’ imprisonment or a $50,000 fine |
| A company | $200,000 fine |
Judges consider things such as how extreme the language was, your age and circumstances, whether it was anonymous or repeated, how many people saw it, and whether it was true.
Civil route: take-down orders
You don’t need a criminal prosecution to get content removed. The District Court can make orders such as a take-down order, but you must complain to Netsafe first: "Before you apply to the court you must have complained to NetSafe." Netsafe is the government-appointed complaints agency under the Act; contact it at help@netsafe.org.nz or 0508 638 723.
What to do right now
- Report the post and the account to the platform.
- Screenshot everything (posts, URLs, dates).
- Lock down privacy settings; set profiles to private; limit who can contact you; consider changing profile names if you’re being tracked.
- Tell trusted friends and family. They may be targeted too. Ask them to go private.
- If it’s safe, ask the person (or a mutual friend) to remove it.
- Contact Netsafe (0508 638 723, help@netsafe.org.nz): free helpline, online reporting, email and live chat.
- If you’re threatened or worried about anyone’s safety, call 111.
Prevent the next one
From Netsafe:
- Think before sharing personal details online.
- Turn off geotagging on your phone and camera.
- Search your own name and details; remove what you can.
- Use strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication.
- Report and block instead of arguing online.
Searching yourself feels a bit vain. It’s actually the most useful ten minutes of privacy work you’ll do this year.
Other places your address leaks
- The electoral roll: apply for the unpublished roll if you’re at risk.
- Data breaches: a free exposure check shows which ones hold your email.
- Organisations holding your data: ask them with an access request.
If an organisation leaked your information, you can also complain to the Privacy Commissioner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is doxxing illegal in New Zealand?
Posting content that intentionally causes severe emotional distress can be illegal under the Harmful Digital Communications Act.
What should I do if I’ve been doxxed?
Report it to the platform, screenshot evidence, lock down your profiles, warn family and contact Netsafe. Call 111 if you’re in danger.
What is the penalty for harmful digital communications in NZ?
Up to 2 years’ imprisonment or a $50,000 fine for an individual, and up to $200,000 for a company, under section 22 of the HDCA.
Can I get doxxing content taken down by a court?
The District Court can make take-down orders, but you must complain to Netsafe first.
Can Netsafe help with doxxing?
Yes. Netsafe offers a free, confidential helpline and can explain your options under the HDCA.