Doxxing

Doxxing (also spelled doxing, from "dropping docs") is the act of researching and publicly broadcasting private or identifying information about a person without their consent, typically with the intent to harass, intimidate, or punish them. Merriam-Webster defines it as publicly identifying or publishing private information about someone, especially as a form of punishment or revenge. The information exposed can include a person's real name, home address, workplace, or contact details. The person doing the doxxing often remains anonymous, while the target is exposed to potential harassment from others.

On Reddit, doxxing is explicitly prohibited under the sitewide content policy, and posting or threatening to post someone's personal information is grounds for content removal and account bans. The platform's pseudonymous culture makes the unmasking of users a recurring concern, and high-profile incidents have shown how quickly amateur "investigations" can misidentify innocent people. A widely cited example is Reddit's role in the 2013 aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing, when users wrongly identified individuals as suspects, prompting an apology from the site. Doxxing can expose targets to real-world harm and may also constitute harassment or stalking under applicable laws.