Doxing claim rejected by Oregon appeals court

In a case that tested Oregon's new anti-doxing law, the state Court of Appeals rejected a claim by Newberg school board members who sought compensation for social media postings they claimed were illegal sharing of private information.

The appeals court cited research by the Brechner Freedom of Information Project. "Thinking Outside the Dox: The First Amendment and the Right to Disclose Personal Information" was written for former Brechner Director Frank D. LoMonte and Paola Fiku.

The research paper conveys cautionary guidance about anti-doxing legislation, and concludes that police and prosecutors already have ample legal tools to pursue threats, identity theft, harassment and other constitutionally unprotected acts, without layering on redundant – and chilling – additional new penalties that assuredly will be used to target critics of police and elected officials.