Officials Misuse 'Doxxing' to Silence Journalists

Authorities stretch the term to threaten reporters covering immigration, misconduct, and more

Mar. 13, 2026 at 5:59pm

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Government officials at the federal, state, and local levels are increasingly using the term 'doxxing' to threaten journalists who report on topics they don't like, such as immigration enforcement, potential misconduct by officials, and military actions. This tactic is chilling reporting and leaving the public less informed, according to four journalists who spoke with Freedom of the Press Foundation about their firsthand experiences.

Why it matters

This misuse of the term 'doxxing' is a way for authorities to demonize and intimidate the media, undermining the public's right to information about their government. It highlights the growing challenges journalists face in reporting on sensitive topics, as officials seek to criminalize routine journalistic practices.

The details

Reporters from outlets like Wired, KCBS radio, the Chicago Tribune, and New Brunswick Today described facing harassment, legal threats, and pressure from their own companies after being accused of 'doxxing' for simply reporting facts about government officials and actions. The officials know that some media companies will back down due to fear of reprisals, leading to a chilling effect on journalism.

  • In March 2026, Freedom of the Press Foundation spoke to the four journalists about their experiences.

The players

Vittoria Elliott

A reporter for Wired who was harassed and faced legal threats from the Department of Justice after reporting on the young engineers who held power at DOGE.

Doug Sovern

A former investigative reporter and political reporter for San Francisco's KCBS radio, who said the 'doxxing' label is a tactic of demonization used by government officials.

Gregory Royal Pratt

An investigative reporter for the Chicago Tribune who faced harassment and threats after a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson condemned him for reporting on a public immigration raid.

Charlie Kratovil

The founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, who described his legal challenge to Daniel's Law in New Jersey, which prohibits the publication of certain information about government or law enforcement officials.

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What they’re saying

“Framing people who are in positions of, frankly, incredible power in the government — which we all pay taxes to and all deserve transparency from — as victims of doxxing for just naming what their roles are and what they're supposedly doing is a great way to continue to demonize media.”

— Vittoria Elliott, reporter, Wired

“There's been no loss of license. Nothing's happened. But there was so much fear on the part of our corporation and their bottom line that it really had a chilling effect on everything we were doing in the political space.”

— Doug Sovern, former investigative reporter and political reporter, KCBS radio

“At least for a moment I thought about it. Then it's like, 'All right, let's get back to work.'”

— Gregory Royal Pratt, investigative reporter, Chicago Tribune

“The seemingly endless expansion of this is only going to lead to more corruption and more crime and people getting away with it.”

— Charlie Kratovil, founder and editor, New Brunswick Today

What’s next

The journalists and media organizations are calling for greater public awareness of this tactic and more support for journalists facing these threats, in order to protect press freedom and the public's right to information.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing challenges journalists face in reporting on sensitive topics, as government officials increasingly misuse terms like 'doxxing' to silence critical coverage and undermine the media's role in holding power to account. It underscores the need for stronger protections for journalists and a more informed public about these tactics.