Gov. Janet Mills has allowed a proposal that bans the “doxxing” of children in Maine to become law without her signature.
The measure from Rep. Melanie Sachs, D-Freeport, defines doxxing as the “intentional, knowing or reckless disclosure” of a child’s personal identifying information by a person who consciously disregards the risk of harm for the minor. It mentions stalking, physical harm and serious property damage among other consequences that would constitute doxxing.
The measure that Mills decided Tuesday to allow to become law without her signature allows kids with legal representation to sue a person who allegedly doxes them, and it allows a child to obtain a protection from harassment order against the person who doxes them.
Personal identifying information that the child has not authorized to be publicized may include a home address, name of their school, email address, phone number, medical information and other records, per the proposal. No federal law explicitly bans doxxing children, but red and blue states such as Alabama and California outlaw the practice as either a crime or a civil penalty in different ways, including by explicitly banning it against judges and police officers.
Sachs had a past incident affecting a constituent in mind when she introduced her bill, but it later took on added relevance after Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Auburn, made a February social media post singling out a transgender student in Maine who won a state track and field title.
The viral post led President Donald Trump to clash with Gov. Janet Mills before the Republican president began targeting Maine and its federal funding over the state letting transgender girls compete in sports aligned with their gender identity.
It is unclear if a court would declare Libby’s use of a previously publicized photo of the student, whom she referred to by both the student’s first name and their “deadname,” as doxxing under the new law.
The amended proposal clarifies that disclosing a child’s photograph that was taken in a public place or previously publicized does not count as “personal identifying information,” but it also says it could count if the photograph is accompanied by the child’s name, information identifying their close relations or other personal identifying information.
Greely High School in Cumberland increased its security in the wake of Libby’s post about its student, with the district superintendent citing national attention and a flurry of online postings that were of “concern” to members of the school community.
Sachs said Thursday that doxxing is “incredibly harmful” and added she is “grateful to the thousands of people across Maine who supported the bill.”
“This law is an important step forward to protect children in Maine,” Sachs said.
