Getting Doxxed 101: How to Protect Yourself
I was sitting on a plane when the text rolled across my phone. My stomach dropped to the floor as I stared into my tea, which was quickly replaced with alcohol.
Since 2020, the conversation regarding anti-racism has gotten louder, but much of that loudness comes from white people, on platforms like CNN and MSNBC. However, when Fox news highlights anti-racism, they always choose Black and Brown creators. They focus on us because they know it puts us in danger, and they view us as a threat. These platforms know exactly what it takes to mobilize their fan bases. See: January 6, 2021.
The internet has many upsides; building community, information sharing, mutual aid, etc. But, the dark side leaves too many of us vulnerable to threats, violence and bigotry.
Black and Brown anti-racism educators and advocates have been around long before 2020, yet we are ignored and threatened. As a Black woman who has worked in the tech industry and continues to consult in this space, I know the risks that come with choosing to be outspoken about this topic. I’m often doxxed and inundated with hateful emails, tweets, comments and DMs threatening my life and describing where I live. Big Tech will always say “Although these aren’t OUR views, their views are safe within our walls.” They protect bigots by allowing them the safeness of anonymity.
Doxxing is a common theme in the depths of the internet. Merriam- Webster defines doxxing as “to publicly identify or publish private information about (someone) especially as a form of punishment or revenge”. Websites like 4Chan have thread after thread of anonymous trolls doxxing those who they disagree with.
The toll of doxxing is not just on your physical safety, but your mental health. When I saw the initial Fox article pop up on my google alerts, I was 30,000 ft in the air with a knot in my stomach. The constant worry that they are going to find you, but there is the barrage of hate mail, DMs and comments you get.
When I talk about anti-racism I say it with my full chest because I know it is right. So, why is it that when these accounts talk about how this work isn't real, and spew their hatred they remain anonymous?
We love to make jokes about how white supremacists live in their mom's basement, but the scarier truth is the people who are behind these accounts live among us. They are our neighbors, our coworkers, the cashiers at the grocery store. They’re cops and seemingly “normal” people.
White supremacists have the power to build platforms. They also have the power to find our addresses, harass, bully and defame us. But that power is nameless, hidden behind fake names, pictures and VPNs. The anonymous trolls use the internet to do their dirty work.
In 2020, a youtube creator made a 40 minute video about me. She didn't show up at my house, but her followers did. Media outlets like Fox know exactly what they are doing when they name anti-racism and dei practitioners by name- they put a target on our backs. This is by design.
They can scream about conspiracy theories, wokeness and liberalism until they're blue in the face, but the truth is that we are a threat to their reality. Dismantling white supremacy threatens their livelihood, their identity and their power.
I recently received this email through my website:
“Good day!
The root of your psychological problems is that you are a filthy, stinking n***er fa***tt. You clearly need Jesus and penis in your life. The best part of Austin, Texas is the great history of n***er lynching. Perhaps I can do that to you someday. We can livestream it on the Twitter.
Homosexuality is a sin. Repent, n***er.
Yours in (White) Christ,”.
When you call the police, they simply respond with “It’s just the internet,” and, “Have you tried not being controversial.”
Although the data on doxxing is unclear, it’s safe to say that if a teenager can figure out how to track Elon Musk’s jet, they can probably find out information about each and every one of us.
So how do you protect yourself when you are also committed to burning the system to the ground?
Here are the steps I’ve taken to protect myself and my family:
Do not post where you are while you are there. It may seem fun to post stories and check-ins, but I promise it is not worth the risk.
Do not post when you are traveling or will not be at your home.
Do not post pictures inside or in front of where you live.
Research yourself monthly. Websites like BeenVerified + Truthfinder have a lot of information about so many of us (addresses, emails, phone numbers, jobs). I pay for a membership to research myself then use DeleteMe to clear these websites of my information.
Have your location on and share with someone you are close to. Have a check in schedule and if they don’t hear from you at the scheduled time, they escalate.
Alarm systems, Ring Doorbells and cameras. That sounds expensive BUT products like SimpliSafe allow you to purchase used/refurbished systems.
Move in silence. The internet has convinced us that the world needs to know everything about us from what our children look like to what we ate for lunch. Show the world what is important for you and your work, but do not feel like you must bare all for follows and likes.
According to Berkeley Office of Ethics, you should hide your domain (if you have a website) from WHOIS (a database of all registered domain names on the web).
Set a google alert for your name.
If you have been doxxed or concerned you have been doxxed, here are some steps you can take:
Contact the platform. Doxxing is against the Terms of Service of every big tech platform. I found that their customer success teams were slow to respond but emailing each company's General Counsel directly seemed to get results (even if they didn’t respond directly to me.) The keywords you want to use are: “report violations” to terms of service or community guidelines”, “threat of violence”.
According to Liz Lee, save everything, screenshots are your best friend.
Tell someone you trust, have them monitor/screenshots the comments (if possible) so that you do not have to read the comments and can focus on your well-being.
Get yourself somewhere safe.
Until you can assess risk, travel using the buddy system.
Go private/dark if you need to, your physical and mental health must come before your brand/work.
If you take anything away from this, please let it be that you are deserving of safety- and if that means you have to step away from this work, that is okay. White supremacy was never ours to dismantle, and yet we do it because so often as Black people we ask ourselves, “if not us, then who?”. Give yourself permission to keep yourself safe, give yourself permission to do what is best for you. Sometimes beating white supremacy means stepping away from it.
Madison Butler is the Chief People Officer at GRAV, consultant and founder of Black Speakers Collection. Her work is focused around creating equitable spaces and creating scalable strategies to achieve psychological safety. She is an outspoken advocate for mental health, removing stigma around trauma, and the ability to be "human at work". She is passionate about facilitating hard conversations through storytelling, data and tough empathy. Follow her on: twitter, tiktok: @corprteUnicorn
instagram: @madisonameliab