Oversight Board wants Meta Platforms to look into ‘doxing’ issues

The Board is recommending that Meta’s policies should go further in preventing individuals’ private residential information from being posted on its platforms with malicious intent, a practice known as ‘doxing.’

“Whilst a series of incidents involving public figures raised the prominence of this issue, it can impact any person at risk of stalking, harassment or potentially subject to malicious intent. The Oversight Board’s guidance reflects extensive consultation with experts and human rights leaders from around the world,” the board said in a statement.

It further added that the guidance ultimately sets out 17 recommendations covering content policy, enforcement and transparency about the sharing of private residential addresses and images.

Among the recommendations, the Board has called on Meta to remove the exception that allows the sharing of private residential information when considered ‘publicly available’ and create a specific communications channel for victims of doxing, that Meta responds to swiftly and that is available to people on and off of Meta’s platforms.

The company should consider violations of its Privacy Violations policy as ‘severe’ and should immediately suspend user accounts where the sharing of private residential information is clearly related to malicious action that creates a risk of violence or harassment

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“The malicious sharing of private residential addresses on social media is a serious problem that can lead to real-world harms including stalking and harassment,” said Oversight Board director Thomas Hughes.

“The Oversight Board has made detailed recommendations to Meta that aim to protect anyone at risk of such attacks while defending freedom of expression. We have urged Meta to show accountability and transparency in this work and publish quantitative data on the enforcement of the Privacy Violations policy. We will continue to engage closely with Meta on these critical issues of public safety,” he added.

The Board’s guidance follows a request from Meta accepted by the Board in June 2021 for a policy advisory opinion. These are distinct from case decisions as the board provides inputs on policies rather than a determination on specific content. Under the terms of the policy advisory opinion, Meta has 60 days to review and publicly respond to the board’s recommendations.