No, doxxing is generally illegal in Virginia under multiple statutes, including harassment, stalking, and cybercrime laws. The Commonwealth treats unauthorized disclosure of private information with intent to intimidate or harm as a criminal offense, punishable by fines or imprisonment. Local prosecutors in jurisdictions like Arlington and Fairfax have aggressively pursued such cases under 2023 amendments to § 18.2-152.7:1, which expanded protections against digital harassment.
Key Regulations for Doxxing in Virginia
- Harassment Statute (§ 18.2-429): Prohibits repeated, unwanted communication with intent to coerce, intimidate, or harass, including the dissemination of personal data to incite harm.
- Stalking Law (§ 18.2-60.3): Criminalizes the willful, malicious, and repeated use of personal information to place a person in reasonable fear of death, bodily injury, or property damage.
- Computer Crimes Act (§ 18.2-152.7:1): Targets unauthorized access or disclosure of electronic records with intent to harass, threatening felony charges for aggravated offenses involving sensitive data like medical or financial records.
Local enforcement agencies, including the Fairfax County Police Department’s Cyber Crimes Unit, collaborate with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office to monitor and prosecute doxxing cases under these frameworks. Violations may escalate to Class 1 misdemeanors or Class 6 felonies based on harm severity, with enhanced penalties for targeting protected classes or public officials.