KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 — Doxing, the unauthorised disclosure of personal information, is a criminal offence, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said today.
In a statement, he stressed that the right to data protection applies to all individuals equally and cannot be used to excuse acts of retaliation, intimidation, or online abuse.
“The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) emphasises that sharing, revealing, or publishing someone's private details without permission, such as their home address, phone number, identity card number, or family information, constitutes a crime and is unacceptable under any circumstances,” he said.
Such acts may be investigated under several laws, including Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, Section 130 of the Personal Data Protection Act 2010, and Sections 507E, 507F(1), or 507F(2) of the Penal Code.
Khalid urged the public to use digital platforms responsibly and ethically and to refrain from sharing others' personal information.
“We will not hesitate to take firm action against anyone found to be breaking these laws, to ensure public safety,” he warned.
He added that PDRM has noted the statement by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail concerning the recent online circulation of a private individual's personal information.
Media reports stated that Saifuddin Nasution has urged the public to refrain from making threats, engaging in online harassment, or disclosing the personal details of a former news portal journalist and his family, following the man's remarks at a recent public forum.
