Sponsors (9)
The bill strengthens federal protection and training for law-enforcement against doxxing and creates civil and criminal remedies that improve safety and cross-jurisdictional enforcement, but it raises substantial free-speech, federalization, cost, and coverage concerns that could chill lawful expression and burden state/local governments and taxpayers.
Law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, and their immediate family members gain a federal criminal deterrent and clearer federal standard for malicious doxxing, strengthening their personal safety and making cross-jurisdictional prosecution easier.
Covered victims (officers, prosecutors, judges and their families) can bring civil suits for damages, injunctive relief, and attorney fees, giving them a private remedy to stop harassment and recover losses.
Federal, state, and local public servants receive free, standardized, annually updated training on protecting personal information online, reducing the risk of data breaches and doxxing and improving baseline cybersecurity practices across jurisdictions.
Journalists, researchers, and ordinary speakers could face criminal liability or a chilling effect on lawful expression because broad or vague definitions of intent or intimidation may sweep in protected speech.
The bill federalizes conduct often handled by states, creating jurisdictional tension and enforcement complexity for state and local governments.
Taxpayers and defendants may face higher fiscal and legal costs because the bill authorizes unspecified appropriations and could drive more prosecutions and civil suits — including heavy penalties (up to decades in prison where injury or death occurs).
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Makes doxxing of judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement with intent to threaten a federal crime, creates a civil right of action, and funds free privacy-protection training.
Official title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the doxxing of law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judges, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 20, 2026 by Josh S. Gottheimer · Last progress May 20, 2026
Creates a new federal crime for knowingly publishing home addresses, personal phone numbers, email addresses, or similar personally identifying information of law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, or their immediate family members when done with intent to threaten, intimidate, or facilitate violence, with prison terms that increase for repeat offenses and where bodily injury or death results. It also gives victims a federal civil cause of action for damages, injunctions, and attorney's fees. Requires the Attorney General to provide and update free training for covered public servants on protecting personal information online, makes that training available to federal, state, and local officials, and authorizes appropriations to carry out the training program.