The Chinese government has ramped up efforts to crack down on doxxing in an attempt to curb what it sees as growing problems related to online privacy violations and cyberbullying.

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) released a notice Tuesday urging its local regulators and social media platforms to adopt a “zero tolerance” approach to “tackling the chaos caused by doxxing.”

The regulator also urged relevant parties to stop the spread of illegally obtained personal information, strengthen early warning systems, impose harsher penalties, and raise public awareness to deter such behavior.

Doxxing — known as “unboxing” in Chinese internet slang — involves obtaining and publicly sharing someone’s personal details. This can include names, photos, ID numbers, phone numbers, home addresses, and online accounts.

In the statement, an official working for the CAC added that suspected use of illegal means to obtain and disclose others’ personal information is often “extremely egregious” because it “directly relates to the vital interests of the public.”

The regulator added that platforms should combat doxxing by removing leaked information and shutting down accounts involved; deleting content related to the sale, methods, or promotion of the practice; and launching reporting channels to verify user complaints.

Platforms are also encouraged to clamp down on the use of personal information “to incite attacks, insults, mockery, or defamation.”

The notice does not define what constitutes “illegal content,” nor does it clarify how authorities or platforms should determine whether information was obtained illegally. While China lacks a specific law targeting doxxing, related actions may violate legal provisions on online privacy, cyberbullying, and the protection of minors.

At a coordination meeting, major online social media platforms, including Weibo, Tencent, Douyin, and Kuaishou, were urged to strictly enforce the guidelines. The regulator disclosed that it had imposed doxxing-related penalties on three major platforms, but did not specify which.

A review conducted by local media shows that Weibo and Douban have already set up channels for users to report doxxing, while users of eight other major social platforms, including QQ, Douyin, Kuaishou, Xiaohongshu (RedNote), can report such behaviors under violations relating to “online bullying and privacy.”

In China, doxxing often leads to widespread harassment, both online and offline, with victims enduring cyberbullying, threats, and real-world consequences. The phenomenon is closely linked to “human flesh search engines,” where netizens collectively dig up and publish a target’s personal information.

The practice has become increasingly pronounced in online conflicts, fandom feuds, and incidents involving public figures or viral controversies.

In one high-profile case earlier this year, the 13-year-old daughter of a senior executive at Chinese search engine Baidu was accused of taking part in a coordinated online attack against a pregnant woman who expressed her disapproval online of the demanding work schedule of a popular K-pop singer. Facing fan retaliation, she was bombarded with harassing phone calls, and her husband received threats via messages online. The incident triggered widespread public outrage, with many questioning how the minor was able to access and exploit such sensitive personal data.

Zhi Zhenfeng, a researcher at the Law Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, says that the guidelines send a clear signal of the government’s control. “Regardless of their size, all websites and platforms that handle personal information must operate in compliance with laws and regulations and be held fully accountable for their responsibilities,” he said in an interview with state-owned CCTV.

He added that addressing the problem requires a “systemic effort,” with strengthened law enforcement and public awareness involving not just the CAC, but also coordination from other regulators that oversee industrial information, market administration, public security, among others.

“A major characteristic of personal information leaks is that they are irreversible, so it is crucial to address the issue at its source to prevent further spread,” he noted.

Editor: Tom Arnstein.

(Header image: iStock/VCG)