This legislation seeks to safeguard special operations personnel and their immediate families by criminalizing the act of doxing. It introduces a new section to Title 18 of the U.S. Code, specifically defining who constitutes a "covered person" and what information is considered "restricted personal information." Covered persons include members of special operations forces, Department of Defense employees involved in sensitive activities, and federal law enforcement officers attached to special operations units. The bill makes it unlawful to knowingly publish restricted personal information about these individuals or their immediate family members with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite a crime of violence. This prohibition also applies if the information is published with the knowledge that it will be used to facilitate such violence. Violations carry penalties of fines and imprisonment for up to five years, with significantly enhanced sentences, including life imprisonment, if death or serious bodily injury results from the offense.
This legislation seeks to safeguard special operations personnel and their immediate families by criminalizing the act of doxing. It introduces a new section to Title 18 of the U.S. Code, specifically defining who constitutes a "covered person" and what information is considered "restricted personal information." Covered persons include members of special operations forces, Department of Defense employees involved in sensitive activities, and federal law enforcement officers attached to special operations units. The bill makes it unlawful to knowingly publish restricted personal information about these individuals or their immediate family members with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite a crime of violence. This prohibition also applies if the information is published with the knowledge that it will be used to facilitate such violence. Violations carry penalties of fines and imprisonment for up to five years, with significantly enhanced sentences, including life imprisonment, if death or serious bodily injury results from the offense.