‘Doxxing’ to Be Banned After 600 Jewish Identities Leaked Online

The federal government plans to ban “doxxing” after the private details of 600 Jewish people were published online by pro-Palestinian activists.
Doxxing is the act of publishing private and confidential information on the internet with malicious intent.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the government is planning to fast-track legislation to stop the publication of private details online.
Mr. Albanese raised concerns about the Jewish community being targeted because of their faith and described it as unacceptable.
He said he has asked the attorney general to develop proposals to strengthen laws against hate speech. “This is not the Australia that we want to see,” Mr. Albanese added.
“Let’s be very clear here, these are 600 people in the creative industries, people like Deborah Conway, the singer, people who are in the arts and creative sector, who had a WhatsApp group.”
“Not a WhatsApp group that was heavily political, a WhatsApp group to provide support for each other because of the rise in anti-semitism that we’ve seen. And what we’ve seen is them being targeted,” Mr. Albanese said.
Co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said there is “great shock and disbelief” that people are once again drawing up lists of Jews.
“It has been said to me by numerous community members that they feel relief that their parents or grandparents who survived the Holocaust are not alive to see this,” Mr. Ryvchin said.
This group of federal parliamentarians includes Liberal member Julian Leeser, Wentworth independent Allegra Spender, and Labor member Josh Burns.
Ms. Spender indicated she supported police investigations into the doxxing incident and potential legal protections.
“I support Victorian police investigations of these actions and consideration of whether further legal protections are necessary. But the most important thing we can do is to come together as Australians and make it clear that this sort of behaviour is just not acceptable.”
Ms. Spender also said Australians cannot let events overseas divide this country.
Mr. Dreyfus said no Australians should be targeted due to their race or because of their religion.
“We live in a vibrant, multicultural community which we should strive to protect.”
ECAJ president, Daniel Aghion, welcomed Prime Minister Albanese’s support for the new provisions making doxxing a crime.
“While existing laws outlaw the use of social media platforms to menace and threaten others, the doxxers themselves, who orchestrated a campaign of intimidation, violent threats, and horrific abuse, cannot be allowed to get away with it,” Mr. Aghion said.
“Our call for this legislation was a response to a coordinated and malicious attack on hundreds of members of our community.
“We have called for an end to the impunity and we are grateful that the government has listened. We look forward to working with the government to ensure the full extent of the harm caused is understood and that the new laws effectively protect Australians from this shameful and dangerous practice.”