KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas announced he is introducing an ordinance that would criminalize “doxing” private information of law enforcement officers.
Lucas' ordinance defines doxing as "the malicious publication of personally identifying information of public servants with the intent to intimidate, abuse, threaten harass or frighten a public servant."
In a Thursday morning tweet Lucas said he met with families of police officers over the weekend.
“Among concerns expressed was 'doxing' of law enforcement officers' addresses and contact info, which means sharing personal information with malicious intent,” Lucas said in the tweet.
Just last month, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson was under fire after unintentionally doxing the names and addresses of Black Lives Matter activists, according to reporting by NBC News.
The incident was brought to attention through a tweet by Ohun Ashe, a well-known St. Louis activist.
The mayor of St. Louis, Lyda Krewson @LydaKrewson just went live telling the full names & addresses of people wanting to defund the police & where they want the money to go. Yall she just put a hit out on people. This is a sick and twisted abuse of power and political terrorism. pic.twitter.com/dTeT69dC23
— Ohun Ashe 🌻🌼🌞 (@Ohun_Ashe) June 27, 2020
Krewson released an apology saying "while this is public information, I did not intend to cause distress or harm to anyone. The post has been removed.”
The new ordinance by Lucas prohibits doxing of public servants, which includes their family and domestic partners.
The language specifies this can be someone the officer is in a relationship with and family members, such as a brother, sister, son and daughter among others.
The ordinance language did not specify how someone could be punished if they do dox a law enforcement officer’s personal information.
Saturday I met with families of police officers. Among concerns expressed was “doxing" of law enforcement officers' addresses and contact info, which means sharing personal information with malicious intent. I am introducing an ordinance today to criminalize such actions. pic.twitter.com/qGiEJr0wog
— Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) July 23, 2020
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