Doxxing vs. unmasking: * Doxxing = publicizing highly specific personal info of an individual (& freq. facilitates intimidation/threats). * Unmasking = publicizing name/identifying photo/city-level location for bystander accountability for someone's pseudonymous behavior.
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Unmasking serves public safety benefits by enabling decisions to not further facilitate (previously secret) bad behavior by an individual. Doxxing of already identified person doesn't serve public safety benefits in same way (various ppl have different Nazi-harming stances).
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Both *can* rely upon the same set of techniques - investigative work, poking around at public records, examining photographs, trying to find related individuals and connections. But they are *different* outcomes from a similar process.
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Unmasking if done carelessly can result in collateral doxxing from sensitive details (phone number, address) being surfaced in process. Doxxing an anonymous individual implies also unmasking them. There is no such thing as unmasking someone who overtly acts under their own name.
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What do I mean by bystander accountability? Things such as refusal to serve, refusal to employ, etc. on basis of odious conduct that has caused others harm. Of course, like all tools, this *can* be used for evil. "Unmasking" and "outing" are the exact same process.
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Where to draw the line? Dunno. Complicated. Are there circumstances where doxxing is indicated? Only if you're also willing to accept moral responsibility for the physical harm you enable. See above re: morality of Nazi-punching, which I personally would not do.
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But the morality of unmasking/outing has similar issues wrt the Paradox of Tolerance. Someone could perceive an individual being trans, or kinky, or gay, to be some kind of public safety threat that public must be warned about, and that bystanders could impose consequences for.
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I vehemently think that unmasking white supremacists (without needing to doxx them) is a public good, and that outing queer people is an evil. But I can't back that with "this tool is inherently good/evil", I need to back my stance with the paradox of tolerance instead.
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Replying to @lizthegrey
As soon as you make it about "evil of the tool" and "protecting all people" from it, you set yourself up to be used by deplorable ppl to further harm their victims.
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Same thing happens with absolutism about guns (a tool I do hate) and DV self-defense situations.
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