Culture Secretary Nandy has pledged to crack down on the online publication of personal information after volunteers from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and other individuals discovered their home addresses posted on the internet.
Speaking in response to the reports, Nandy condemned the distribution of private details and said that the government would act to address the problem. The remarks follow growing concern about the practice known as "doxxing," in which people’s personal information is shared publicly with the intent to intimidate, harass or expose them.
What is doxxing?
Doxxing typically involves posting identifiers such as home addresses, phone numbers or private correspondence online without consent. Campaigners and law enforcement say the act can put individuals at risk of harassment, threats or physical danger, and can have chilling effects on people who volunteer or participate in public life.
The RNLI, which relies on volunteers for search-and-rescue operations around the UK and Ireland, said some of its volunteers had found their addresses made public. The organisation has previously highlighted the importance of safeguarding its crews and staff, and the disclosure of home details has prompted calls from charities and civic groups for stronger protections against targeted online abuse.
Nandy’s intervention signals a political response to those concerns, with the Culture Office framing the publication of private addresses as unacceptable. Details of any specific measures or legislative proposals were not set out in the statement accompanying her comments.