EOTO #2 Doxxing

Doxxing and its significance

The dictionary definition of doxxing is to "Search for and publish private or identifying information about (a particular individual) on the internet, typically with malicious intent."

The word doxxing originates from the word “documents” and was typically used as slang for hackers trying to access said documents, 

where people would obtain others’ personal documents and leaking that information out. 

Doxxing is a form of online harassment where a user targets a specific person or group, finds personal information, and publishes it.

Personal information could include someone's home address, email address, phone number, real name, place of employment, family members, or photographs.

Google Images

Doxxing is done with malicious intent, usually targeting a celebrity, social-media influencer, journalist, politician, or anyone the Doxxer is seeking revenge on.

The bottom line is that it is exposing people in a defaming way that is highly illegal.

The term doxxing has become very common, in today’s era and I find it important to bring up because we are learning about the first amendment, privacy, and what is protected by the constitution.

Its become so popular on social media, due to cancel culture, blackmailing, and cyberbullying. It’s important to note that technology cannonballed the action and results that is doxxing. 

An example of doxxng is an article I read in the new york times about how doxxing is used to cancel people for being neo-nazis, and a professor was wrongly accused of attending a neo-nazi march. The article made a point about people are doxxing others to feel they are doing the right thing exposing others, by reading personal emails, accessing social media, and leaking other personal documents on the internet for all to see. Rather than engaging in doxxing we should be.

Google Images

Learning about doxxing and its effect on technology can teach us how to be safer on the internet, that we are not giving in hackers or supporting doxxing by cancelling and blackmailing others on social media. It’s important to know that doxxing causes more harm than good, even if the personal information reveals important information. And it also keeps us ethical and NOT engaging in illegal activities by doxxing someone if we learn about it.

blog #3 8 values of expression

The bill of rights in the constitution contains, The first amendment is all about the freedom of speech. the first amendment arguably enables us to think and act freely in the USA.

Google Images

The first amendment has eight values that go along with free speech. they are a marketplace of ideas, participation in self-government, stable change, individual self-fulfillment, check on governmental power, promoting tolerance, promoting innovation, and protecting dissent. these values represent the idea of the first amendment. it's especially important in today's society that the first amendment exists. Social media is a key player in today's conversations with the first amendment. my question is, do social media companies support the first amendment if they are meddling with present-day events, issues, and controversies, like the election, protests, and Covid-19 pandemic.

First Amendment defined,
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Facebook claims that they are doing their job with fact-checking and monitoring posts throughout the election. in which they launched a campaign to promote posts and keep users informed about the election. facebook's own website claims that "We are committed to securing our platforms, providing transparency and empowering people to vote."Many users feel they could not voice their opinions and got their posts taken down. Facebook even said in the 2020 election that Russia was trying to influence young left-wing voters with posts. 

BBC News Image

Another example is the information spread about the Covid-19 pandemic, extending resources, and monitoring and fact-checking those on social media sites. and claiming there is a pandemic of misinformation. this kind of regulation can hinge on what freedom of speech claims to be, yet they are on privately owned platforms, and further divide everyone online.

These examples bring me to my final question, how can Americans be free if they are silenced and monitored on social media to spread the "right information" and silenced if they do not match with social medias' guidelines. How can the first amendment protect us on social media?

blog post #2 supreme court