Last week, Senate Bill 27 passed out of the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, and the House Rules Committee could send it to the House floor any day.

SB 27 would create the most dangerous anti-doxxing statute in the country, criminalizing more constitutionally protected speech than any other law.

Under SB 27, a person commits the crime of doxxing if they (1) post about someone, (2) include information identifying that person’s employer or location, (3) and the post could lead to someone else causing that person to experience, fear of stalking or physical harm, economic harm or mental anguish.

Notably, a person can be guilty of doxing even if the information posted was already publicly available.

SB 27 is overly broad, vague, and would empower law enforcement and prosecutors to attack Georgians’ right to free of speech with broad discretion.

Why SB 27 is Problematic

• It is overly broad and unconstitutional. SB 27 would criminalize far more protected speech than unprotected speech, including posts criticizing government officials and posts on issues of public concern – speech the Supreme Court has said “has always rested on the highest rung of the hierarchy of First Amendment values” and described as “the essence of self-government.”
• It gives law enforcement broad discretion. SB 27 gives law enforcement and prosecutors the power to selectively decide who gets charged with doxing, raising concerns about potential abuse.
• It will chill protected speech. If enacted, SB 27 will create fear about what online speech could result in criminal prosecution, leading to a chilling effect on free expression.
• It is unnecessary. Unprotected speech, such as harassing communications, is already punishable under Georgia law. SB 27 adds redundant offenses that could be used to suppress legitimate speech.

Adding this offense to the Georgia Code fails to promote public safety. The unprotected speech SB 27 claims to target is already criminalized, and the protected speech it would criminalize should not—and cannot—be suppressed. SB 27 would give law enforcement and prosecutors even more power to target online expression and stifle constitutionally protected speech.

Act Now: Urge members of the House Rules Committee to VOTE NO on SB 27!