An Ohio lawmaker wants to make it a felony to publish a police officer’s home address, birth date or phone number online with intent to threaten or intimidate them. State Rep. Gayle Manning says the proposal grew out of a Lorain case in which an officer who was cleared of wrongdoing still watched personal information about the incident spread across social media nationwide.
The bill would prohibit publicly disclosing a peace officer’s personal identifying information with intent to intimidate, threaten or cause physical harm, according to Cleveland 19 News. Under the measure, that protected information includes a home address, birth date or phone number, and violators would face a third-degree felony carrying a fine of up to $10,000, probation or prison time.
Manning says the Lorain Police Department approached her about an officer who faced nationwide online backlash after being cleared of wrongdoing. She said the officer had done nothing wrong, but information about the incident still went viral through social media, turning a cleared officer into the target of a pile-on.
A Bill Aimed at Doxxing, Not Reporting
Manning has described the measure as bipartisan and says it is meant to target malicious doxxing and harassment rather than routine reporting or free speech. She said it would not affect the news, framing the bill as a narrow tool against people who weaponize an officer’s personal details rather than a restriction on journalism or public accountability…