AI-assisted research summary: This section defines terms and makes doxing a crime when someone electronically publishes personal identifying information with harmful intent and the harm or interference actually happens.
(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) FIREFIGHTER. The term as defined in Section 36-21-180. (2) GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTION. The term as defined in Section 13A-10-1. (3) LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. An officer employed by the state, county, or municipality who is certified by the Alabama Police Officers’ Standards and Training Commission and who has the power of arrest. (4) PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION. Includes, but is not limited to, all of the following: a. Home address. b. Photographs or information of the victim’s children, including the schools they attend. c. Any other information that would enable the victim to be harassed, threatened, or harmed. (5) PUBLIC SERVANT. The term as defined in Section 13A-10-1. (b) An individual commits the crime of doxing if he or she does either of the following: (1) Intentionally electronically publishes, posts, or provides personal identifying information of another individual, with the intent that others will use that information to harass or harm that other individual, and the other individual is actually harassed or harmed. (2) Intentionally electronically publishes, posts, or provides personal identifying information of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or public servant, with the intent that others will use that information to harass, harm, or impede the duties of that law enforcement officer, firefighter, or public servant, and the law enforcement officer, firefighter, or public servant is actually harassed, harmed, or impeded from performing his or her governmental function. (c)(1) A violation of subsection (b) is a Class A misdemeanor. (2) A second or subsequent violation of subsection (b) is a Class C felony. (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit any of the following: (1) Political speech protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. (2) The publication of contact information of public officials by any individual or organization for the purpose of encouraging citizens to lobby the public official for or against any policy or legislative act. For purposes of this subdivision, contact information means an official address, email, or phone number used by the public official for his or her public service.