AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI DOXXING PREVENTION ACT; TO PROHIBIT THE INTENTIONAL AND WILLFUL DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION OF CERTAIN PERSONS; TO AMEND SECTION 25-61-12, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXEMPT THE INFORMATION OF CERTAIN PERSONS FROM THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 13-5-16, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH REGULATES THE RANDOM DRAWING OF JURORS, FOR PURPOSES OF AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
If enacted, the bill will amend existing laws to exempt the personal information of covered persons from the Mississippi Public Records Act, thereby providing enhanced privacy protections. This aims to reduce the risk of harassment and violence against these individuals, especially those involved in sensitive roles related to law enforcement and the judicial process. The penalties for violation of these protections range from misdemeanors for first offenses to felonies for subsequent violations, which could impose significant fines or prison time for offenders.
House Bill 704, known as the Mississippi Doxxing Prevention Act, is intended to prohibit the deliberate disclosure of personal information regarding specific individuals, termed 'covered persons.' These individuals include law enforcement officers, state employees, jurors, witnesses in court proceedings, and their close relations. The bill aims to safeguard these individuals from harassment, intimidation, or threats resulting from the public disclosure of their personal information. The bill delineates what constitutes 'restricted personal information,' which encompasses Social Security numbers, home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and similar sensitive data.
Although the intent of the bill is to provide necessary protections for individuals in sensitive positions, there may be concerns about the implications of limiting public access to certain types of government-held information. Opponents may argue that such protections could hinder transparency and accountability of public officials. Moreover, debates may arise over the definitions of harassment and the effectiveness of the proposed penalties in deterring doxxing behaviors.
The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and it aims to create a legal structure for prosecuting individuals who willfully disclose sensitive personal information with malicious intent. This is particularly timely in a digital age where doxxing has become an increasingly prevalent issue, leading to potential physical harm, emotional distress, and erosion of public trust among those serving in critical public roles.