WA Lawmakers Advance Anti-Doxing Bill

OLYMPIA, WA — Bipartisan legislation designed to add stronger penalties for "doxing" passed out of the statehouse Monday. According to the bill's sponsor, state Rep. Drew Hansen (D-Bainbridge Island), the legislation would directly prohibit people from publicizing personally identifiable information with "intent to harass, intimidate, or otherwise cause harm."

The bill also establishes a "civil cause of action" for victims, allowing them to seek statutory damages to the tune of $5,000 per violation.

"In the last few years, we've seen a dramatic increase in the weaponization of personal information to harass, intimidate and silence others," Hansen said Monday. "If you're using this information with the intent to cause someone harm, and they do suffer harm, then that person should be entitled to recover damages to deter this type of conduct."

Hansen's anti-doxing bill is part of a larger suite of bills this session designed to curtail hate crimes, harassment, threats and vandalism. The representative is also seeking $500,000 in state funds to pay for security grants from places of worship that have been targeted in hate-based incidents.

The anti-doxing bill passed the House on a 79-16 vote Monday, with strong support across party lines. It now sits before the Senate.