Doxxing
Etymology
From hacker slang “dropping dox,” where “dox” is a clipped, deliberately misspelled “documents.” In 1990s underground scenes, revealing a rival’s real identity behind their handle was an act of aggression. As everyone moved online, the tactic spread from hacker feuds to mainstream harassment.
verb · /DOK-sing/
Publishing someone’s private identifying information online to expose or endanger them.
What it names
The weaponizing of personal data — turning findable facts into a threat.
Example
After the argument went viral, someone doxxed her, posting her home address and workplace to a hostile forum.
Related idea
Doxxing exposes true information to cause harm, whereas catfishing fabricates a false identity to deceive; both turn the fluidity of online identity into a weapon.