Kimberly stands up against doxxing and mob abuse

On Monday, September 12, 2022, Nicki Minaj fans (aka Barbz) posted my personal information, including my current phone number and previous home address, in order to coordinate a campaign of harassment and intimidation in retaliation for opinionated tweets about the rap superstar.

After they doxxed me, I received dozens of messages that included sexist and rac,ist slurs as well as threats of violence, sexual assault, and kidnapping. This group, via social media and phone, targeted not only me but my nine-year-old nieces and their elementary school. I've filed reports with local police and the FBI.

Neither the abusive messages nor the threats have stopped, and I don't expect them to.

These kinds of harassment campaigns are not new, and in recent days I've conversed with a number of people, almost all of whom are ordinary social media users, who've been subject to large-scale abuse for expressing an opinion that upset the mob. One person told me a member of the mob leaked their nude photos. These victims did not take legal action because they did not have the time or money to do so. That has to change.

No one in a society that aspires to be fair and free should tolerate organized mobs whose only goal is to silence dissent. Even when it comes to something as frivolous as a celebrity, the behavior is indefensible.

I am going to pursue the participants in this digital mob via every available legal avenue in order to strengthen protections for victims of doxxing, cyber harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Bringing suit against every offender will require many months and multiple lawsuits, but I am committed to seeing each case through to the end for myself and for everyone who has seen the very worst of the Internet.

Media Coverage:

Buzzfeed

The Daily Beast