Short answer
Doxxing is publishing someone’s private details — home address, phone number, ID numbers, workplace — to expose or target them. First, if you feel in danger, contact the police. Then save evidence (links, dated screenshots, usernames) before anything disappears; report each post under the platform’s private-information rules — X, for example, may act on a posted home address because of the risk of physical harm; and ask Google to remove search results that show your contact details or doxxing content, or find them with Results about you. Google can only remove results from Search; the site hosting the post decides whether it comes down. Finally, lock down your accounts — doxxing is often followed by takeover attempts.
In the first hour
- If there are threats, or someone may come to your home, call the police first.
- Save evidence: the URL of each post, screenshots showing the date and username, and any messages. Don’t engage with the people posting.
- Report every post and account — choose the private or personal information category, not just “harassment”.
- Warn the people close to you, and your workplace or school, if their details or yours were shared.
- Make your social accounts private for now and check who can see your contact details.
Report it where it was posted
| Where | What the rules cover | How to report |
|---|---|---|
| X | Home address, phone number, ID documents and other private information; X may act on a home address even if it is public elsewhere | Report the post under private information. Anyone can report clearly abusive cases; otherwise X may need the person affected or a representative |
| Instagram and Facebook | Meta’s privacy-violation rules on sharing someone’s personal information or images without consent | Report the post or profile in the app; privacy forms are in the Help Center |
| Google Search | Contact details, ID numbers, doxxing content with threats, and aggregated personal information | Removal request form, or the Results about you tool |
| Other websites | The site’s own terms | Contact the site owner or host; once removed, Google drops the page from Search |
Get it out of Google
Google may remove results that show your address, phone number or email, ID numbers such as a social security or national ID number, and pages that combine your details with threats or calls to harm you. Use the removal request form or the Results about you tool, which can also alert you to new results with your contact details. Google removes the result from Search only — to delete the page itself, report it to the website. More: remove personal information from Google and, in the EU, the right to erasure.
Lock down your accounts
- Change passwords and turn on two-step verification for email and social media — account takeover attempts often follow doxxing.
- Check where you are signed in: logged-in devices.
- Ask your mobile carrier for a PIN to block SIM swaps: SIM swap.
- Where possible, remove your address from public profiles, old listings and domain registrations.
When the platform doesn’t act
Keep a record of report numbers and dates. In the EU, the Digital Services Act gives you further routes — see appealing under the DSA. For ongoing campaigns, see online harassment: where to escalate. Our X account and private information removal service prepares and follows up reports through official channels.
Frequently asked questions
Is doxxing illegal?
It depends on the country and on what was shared and why. Threats, stalking and harassment are crimes in many places, and platforms ban posting private information to target someone. If you feel unsafe, report it to the police.
Can Google remove my home address from search results?
Yes. Google may remove results that show your home address or other contact details, and pages that combine your personal information with threats. It removes them from Search only, not from the website.
Should I reply to the person who doxxed me?
No. Save the evidence, report and block. Engaging can escalate things and prompt them to delete what you need as evidence.
Who can report doxxing on X?
Anyone can report private information shared in a clearly abusive way; in other cases X may need to hear from the person affected or an authorised representative.
Sources: X Help Center — private content policy, Google Search Help — remove your private info from Google Search, Google Search Help — Results about you, Instagram Help — report a post or profile