Victims turn to court to stop doxxing, cyber bullying and other harassment

People becoming more aware of their rights and where to seek help, lawyers say

- Theresa Tan

Believing her former boyfriend's new love interest to be behind their break-up, a woman posted a host of personal and private information on her social media accounts about the other woman.

The information included pictures of the new girlfriend and her family members, the names of her businesses and her contact details.

Mr Silas Siew, an associate at Invictus Law Corporation who represented the victim, said the woman "laboured under the misimpression that the new girlfriend caused her relationship to end".

Eventually, the victim was able to put an end to the doxxing by applying for a court order against the perpetrator, a legal action that more targets of harassment are now taking through a specialised court.

Doxxing is the act of publishing another person's private information online without consent, typically to harass or shame the other person.

Mr Siew added: "The ex's harassment certainly brought a great deal of distress to the couple, who were put on their toes and always looking over their shoulders for new forms of harassment.

"They could not focus on their daily pursuits as before."

The Protection from Harassment Court granted the victim's application for an expedited protection order.

After the court order was issued, the woman apologised to the new girlfriend and stopped harassing her, Mr Siew said.

Under the Protection from Harassment Act, a protection order is a court order that restrains the harasser from continuing his or her actions. It can also include conditions to ensure the victim's safety, said Mr Fong Wei Li, managing director of Forward Legal.