No, doxxing—publicly revealing someone’s private information with intent to harm—violates Wisconsin’s harassment, stalking, and privacy statutes, including Wis. Stat. § 942.08 (harassment) and § 940.32 (stalking). Local district attorneys aggressively prosecute cases tied to online threats, while 2026 amendments to Wis. Admin. Code § JUS-150 expand penalties for digital harassment targeting public officials.
Key Regulations for Doxxing in Wisconsin
- Wis. Stat. § 942.08 (Harassment): Prohibits disclosing an individual’s home address, phone number, or employment details with intent to intimidate, regardless of medium. Violations escalate to Class I felonies if the target is a public servant.
- Wis. Stat. § 940.32 (Stalking): Covers repeated electronic or in-person contact that places a person in reasonable fear, including doxxing campaigns. First offenses are Class I felonies; subsequent violations trigger Class H felonies.
- Local Enforcement: The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s 2026 Cybercrime Unit prioritizes doxxing cases involving minors or marginalized groups, coordinating with county DA offices to fast-track prosecutions under enhanced sentencing guidelines.
Violators face fines up to $10,000 and 3.5 years imprisonment per count, with restitution ordered for victims’ security costs. Platforms hosting doxxing content may also face liability under Wis. Stat. § 895.0705 if they fail to remove material within 48 hours of a verified complaint.