Tougher strategy needed to tackle doxing
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The Dutch House of Representatives wants websites on which personal data is shared to be taken offline. Bart Schermer, an expert in privacy and cybercrime, commented on ‘RTL Nieuws’: ‘Providers who refuse to cooperate can be held liable.'
Publicly sharing someone’s personal data without their consent is known as ‘doxing’ and has been illegal in the Netherlands since 2024. An investigation by RTL Nieuws has revealed that personal data of thousands of Dutch people, including children, can be found on a specialised website. The information includes addresses, telephone numbers, and in some cases even nude photos. Despite attempts by the police and the Public Prosecution Service to stop the site, it has been online continuously for eight years. A majority in the Dutch House of Representatives is now calling for a tougher approach to these types of websites.
Professor Schermer says it is possible by law to take these sites offline, but in practice this is not always given the highest priority by investigative authorities. This is partly due to a lack of capacity. 'If a site is clearly criminal, a court can order it to be taken offline,' says the professor. 'Providers who refuse to cooperate can be held liable.'
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Read the full article on RTL Nieuws (in Dutch)