No. Doxxing—publicly revealing private personal information with intent to harm—violates West Virginia’s harassment, stalking, and cybercrime statutes. The state lacks a standalone doxxing law but prosecutes such acts under existing criminal codes, including felony stalking charges for repeated, malicious disclosures. Local prosecutors in Kanawha and Monongalia Counties have pursued cases under W. Va. Code § 61-2-9a, leveraging 2024 amendments to strengthen penalties for digital harassment.
Key Regulations for Doxxing in West Virginia
- W. Va. Code § 61-2-9a (Stalking/Cyberstalking): Prohibits repeated, unwanted contact or disclosure of personal data with intent to intimidate, placing victims in reasonable fear of bodily harm. Felony charges apply if the victim suffers serious emotional distress or physical harm.
- W. Va. Code § 61-3C-14a (Harassment via Electronic Communication): Criminalizes the electronic transmission of private information with malicious intent, punishable by up to 6 months in jail and fines up to $1,000 for first offenses.
- W. Va. Code § 61-11-26 (Disclosure of Intimate Images): Targets non-consensual sharing of explicit or sensitive personal data, imposing misdemeanor penalties (up to 1 year imprisonment) and mandatory restitution for damages incurred.
Local law enforcement agencies, including the West Virginia State Police’s Cyber Crimes Unit, prioritize doxxing cases under these statutes, particularly when tied to domestic violence or organized harassment campaigns. The 2026 legislative session may introduce standalone doxxing legislation, as proposed in House Bill 4121, which would codify specific penalties for malicious personal data exposure.