Bill > HB5427

This bill, titled the "Anti-Doxxing and Privacy Protection Act," aims to criminalize the malicious publication of personally identifiable information (PII), which is any data that can identify an individual, with the intent to harass, intimidate, threaten, stalk, or facilitate harm. The bill defines "doxxing" as knowingly and intentionally sharing someone's PII without their consent to intimidate them, incite harassment by others, or place them or their family in fear of harm. PII includes sensitive details like home addresses, phone numbers, financial information, and even images of private residences. The legislation establishes criminal penalties, ranging from misdemeanors to felonies for repeat offenses or when the victim is a public servant or their family, and also provides civil remedies for victims to seek damages and legal protection. Importantly, the bill includes exclusions for legitimate activities like reporting under freedom of information laws, court proceedings, and good-faith journalism or research, provided these actions are not intended to cause harm. It also mandates government agencies to create procedures for redacting PII from public records when there's a credible safety risk, prioritizing those in sensitive professions.

Justice

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=5427&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill