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House approves doxing prohibition that criminalizes online posting of identifying information
Summary
The House passed Senate Bill 227 to criminalize dissemination of others’ identifying information (SSNs, driver’s-license numbers, bank accounts, biometric data, passwords) with penalties ranging from misdemeanors to felonies for repeats or minors. Vote: 62–9.
The Utah House passed measures tightening criminal penalties for online dissemination of sensitive personal data, commonly referred to as doxing.
Representative Perry, sponsor of the floor amendment, described doxing as posting someone else’s identifying documents or data online in a way that can cause embarrassment or identity theft. "I didn't even know what doxing was at the first session, but I do believe that this is a good thing for us to do as a state to take this step forward," Perry said on the floor as he outlined protected categories including Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, bank-account numbers, biometric data and computer passwords.
The bill creates criminal penalties for unlawful disclosure; the floor presentation said violations can be a class B misdemeanor, elevated to a class A misdemeanor for disclosures involving minors, and can escalate to felony charges for subsequent offenses. Sponsor Perry said the measure had been shortened from an earlier, much longer draft and focused on the criminal side and specific identifiers to protect personal information.
The House passed Senate Bill 227, doxing prohibition amendments, by a recorded vote of 62 yes, 9 no. The bill will be returned to the Senate for further consideration.
