Ferd Grapperhaus, the Minister of Security and Justice of the Netherlands, wants to criminalize the sharing of private data to intimidate someone. The Justice department argues that the distribution of this type of information to frighten someone, also known as doxing, has become more common. This is partly due to the rise in internet and social media use. The police and the House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) have been pushing for a criminal law approach to doxing for some time.
Threats and stalking are already punishable by law. But doxing, which can be just as intimidating, is often not criminally punishable in practice. Grapperhaus opened a bill to regulate this issue in July. He wants a maximum sentence in prison of one year for providing, disseminating or making available personal data for the purpose of scaring someone. The minister also wants to make it easier for people to rely on internet providers or online platforms to have illegal content removed.
“This really crosses the line and we need to make that clear in the law. Some people think they can intimidate others by spreading private information. This is more than just rude,” says Grapperhaus to Het Parool newspaper. According to him, police officers are hindered during work, scientists can’t speak freely anymore, families don’t feel safe at home and many people are too afraid to step outside and be themselves.
As an example, the homes of several leftist writers were recently covered in stickers saying “This location is being observed by followers of Vizier op Links” (‘Watch the Left’). Somehow, extreme right activists had discovered and shared the home addresses of the victims, causing them considerable distress. One person who found this sticker on her door is Nadia Bouras, an expert on migration and history lecturer at to Leiden University who often publishes opinion pieces in the media. FD newspaper describes her shock: the intimidation works and the message “we know where to find you” gets across.
The thinly veiled threat of the mysterious organization against Bouras is not an isolated incident.
Vizier op Links, set up in March 2020, has a website and social media account that regularly share personal data of scientists, activists, opinion makers and politicians who are seen as leftist-leaning.
Increase of violence against police
The annual report “Violence against police officers”, published in April, showed that more than 12,500 police officers encountered aggression and violence at work in 2020. Out of this number, 108 cases involved threats to their home addresses via social media. In the previous year, there were 58 cases in total.
Specialists attribute the increase partially to the corona measures. After the curfew riots in January, the number of doxing cases increased. The addresses of agents were openly requested and shared on social media. According to Grapperhaus, rioters made videos edited in such a way that officers seemed to be inciting riots or arresting people without reason. The private data of these officers are then looked up via platforms such as Facebook and put online. “Photos of them, with all kinds of information, including home addresses. Like: this is Jan, he is violent and he lives at this address. This is a really cowardly thing to do,” says minister Grapperhaus.
Not everyone will be punished
The most important aspect of the bill is the intent behind the dissemination of private data. For example, journalists and whistleblowers will not be punished if the sharing of information is in the service of public interest. “It must be clear what the intention is,” a spokesperson for the ministry clarified.
In this way, the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations that trade in address files do not immediately run into problems. A missed opportunity, says Bouras. “I think the danger of this trade in personal data is underestimated.” Officials have until the end of August to comment on the bill. Grapperhaus wants to propose it to the House of Representatives after the summer recess.
Written by Raphael Perachi Vieira