‘Doxing’ causes concern in Oklahoma
What you consider personal information could be made public online, and you might not be able to do anything about it.
The term “doxing” is used to describe the practice of gathering personal information about an individual with the intent of maliciously spreading that same information to the public. It can include phone numbers, addresses, financial information, security details and more, and it has increased with the spread of the internet and social media.
“It’s been going on for quite a while now,” said Ken Dewey, director of the cyber security program at Rose State College. “They (doxers) are scouring information on us from everything that has been posted online.”
Information can be obtained through numerous sources, often online, and the subsequent publishing of information isn’t illegal, according to Dewey.
“It’s not illegal to spread information, but it’s illegal to use it,” Dewey said.
Robert Kerr is a professor in the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College, and he teaches on freedom of speech and the First Amendment. Making a case against the spread of information can be difficult, he said
“It is almost impossible to establish that any reasonable expectation of privacy could be held concerning information in public records or events that occur in public,” Kerr said.
Essence Salon and Spa, in Edmond, at 1015 Waterwood Parkway, was accused recently of doxing former clients who left poor reviews online. The company appeared to post phone numbers, home addresses, places of occupation and names of spouses in response to reviews critical of the company.
One man, who asked for his name to be withheld from publication, recently received a haircut at Essence, but was displeased with the result. He left a review online to alert other potential customers of his experience, and the company responded to his review calling it “fake” and including the man’s phone number and the name of his wife.
“This has been the most bizarre experience, and I can’t believe a haircut turned into something like this,” the man told The Oklahoman.
Another woman received a similar response to her review. She too was dissatisfied with the service and wrote a review describing her experience. The company appeared to respond and include the woman’s name, birthday and home address without her permission.
“I don’t trust these people,” the woman told The Oklahoman. “They know my address, and they know my name. I don’t want to be a part of this. They don’t deserve to have a business like this and make other people victims.”
In both instances, the company’s responses were later edited and information was removed, but not before screenshots had been pulled by The Oklahoman.
The Oklahoman called Essence in an attempt to reach the owner. An individual who identified as “Allie” answered the phone and claimed to be the owner. She did not provide a last name and denied any knowledge of the doxing activity on the Google reviews.
“I have no idea about that, but there is definitely not on our website,” the woman said. “I’m saying there is no personal information
on our website, so that is the end of that.”
Essence Salon and Spa is registered to the limited liability company, Essence of Edmond LLC, according to the Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering.
The articles of organization for Essence of Edmond LLC were signed by an individual named Alison Phillips, according to the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s office.