Bill Would Make it a Crime to Dox Federal Law Enforcement Officers
Legislation is introduced in the Senate to protect federal law enforcement officers from doxxing.
The bill would make it a crime to dox a federal law enforcement officer with the intent of disrupting an investigation. Doxxing is when personal information is released publicly with malicious intent.
The legislation was introduced by Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn (R) after a flare up over immigration patrols in Nashville.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell (D) published communications between local law enforcement and federal law enforcement, as dozens of illegal migrants were arrested. That included the name of some federal officers. The mayor says he wanted to be transparent to the public about the immigration raids and didn’t intend harm to law enforcement. But Senator Blackburn (R-TN) sees it differently.
“Just last week, Nashville Mayor O’Connell and his office doxxed federal law enforcement officers after the Trump administration worked with Tennessee Highway Patrol to arrest criminal illegal aliens. My Protecting Law Enforcement from Doxxing Act would make this illegal and hold blue city mayors accountable for obstructing enforcement of our immigration laws by putting law enforcement officers in harm’s way,” said Senator Blackburn.
Under Senator Blackburn’s bill, an individual found guilty of doxxing would face a fine and/or imprisonment of five years. The bill specifies that the information must be released with the intent to obstruct criminal investigations or immigration operations in order to be considered a criminal offense.
First Amendment Groups Raise Concerns
Opposition is rolling in to the legislation, not just from Democrats, but also from first amendment groups who say the bill could stifle free speech.
"Public oversight and accountability relies on accurate news about law enforcement activity," Gabe Rottman, vice president of policy at the Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the Press told Reason. "The bill is dangerously overbroad and could be used to chill newsgathering and reporting that is clearly in the public interest."
Meanwhile, DHS officials are alarmed by "thugs" with an "independent media group" who published online a list of ICE officials and are soliciting the public to make reports. This is heightening concern of doxxing within the ranks.