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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Where does that leave us? Doxxing and unmasking are both tools. They shouldn't be conflated with each other. Justifications for using them may vary from person to person. Consider this though: doxxing is more akin to torture of target and nearby innocents than punching 1 person.

My 2c: unmasking is a tool that can sometimes be justifiably used (but often is used intolerantly), and that doxxing is best not used (popular saying is "punch a Nazi" not "torture a Nazi and their family" for a reason). Others have principled reasons to disagree. [fin]

Lest various malactors try to come after me for this: I did state above that I personally do not practice generalized-case Nazi-punching, and I state for the record that in addition to above, I vehemently oppose all workplace safety threats. all of above not employer's opinion.

A few other interesting footnotes that may be relevant: notice I said the word "publicize". "public" and "publicized" are night and day different. Memorize the difference.

Also I didn't even get into "assault by proxy of the state" discussed in Naomi's thread -- a fake hostage situation is not the only way that happens, accusing someone of being queer or politically subversive can have similar effects in repressive countries eg Malaysia, PRC.