THE rapid growth of social media has fundamentally transformed the way journalists engage with the public. Platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, Instagram and TikTok enable journalists to communicate directly with audiences and disseminate information more quickly than ever before.
However, this digital transformation has also introduced new challenges, including online trolling, harassment, threats and doxing.
Doxing refers to the act of publishing an individual's private information, such as phone numbers, home addresses or family details, without consent. For journalists, doxing is often used as a form of intimidation designed to silence or discourage them from continuing to report on sensitive issues.
During a dialogue session with Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil in Penang on June 20, held in conjunction with HAWANA 2026, the minister encouraged journalists to become an "additional voice" for the government in countering misinformation circulating on social media. In my view, being an "additional voice" also reflects journalists' personal opinions and the content they produce to refute misleading claims circulating online.
However, increased interaction between journalists and the public on digital platforms does not necessarily result in constructive public discourse. Instead, digital spaces have increasingly become environments where hostility, harassment and personal attacks against journalists flourish.
Instead, digital spaces have increasingly become environments where hatred, harassment and personal attacks against journalists thrive. Doxing should therefore not be viewed merely as an individual problem but as an issue deeply rooted in the power structures of the digital media ecosystem.
Although social media offers journalists unprecedented opportunities to connect with audiences, it also exposes them to a growing range of online abuse and security threats.
A study conducted by Columbia University involving 37 journalists, editors, publishers, freelancers and social media managers in the United States found that many media organisations still fail to provide adequate protection for employees facing these threats.
A similar pattern is emerging in Malaysia, where journalists have increasingly become targets of online hostility. In some cases, netizens have shared journalists' personal social media accounts and identified the media organisations they work for.
I vividly recall how one Malaysian entertainment news outlet recently became the subject of widespread ridicule on Threads. Users mocked the portal's sensational headlines while also circulating the identities of its employees across social media.
Earlier this year, a journalist from a local news portal received threats after personal information was disseminated online following a controversial question raised during a public lecture involving British politician George Galloway. More alarmingly, some netizens linked the incident to Malaysia's highly sensitive 3R issues (race, religion and royalty) using inflammatory, racist and deeply inhumane language.
The political economy behind digital harassment
From a political economy perspective, social media companies such as Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads as well as TikTok, operate on profit-driven business models. The greater the level of user engagement, the more revenue these platforms generate through advertising.
Within this system, emotionally charged content—particularly anger, controversy and conflict—tends to receive greater algorithmic visibility than ordinary content. Consequently, attacks against journalists can become part of a digital culture incentivised by platform algorithms.
Academic research also suggests that journalists have become increasingly vulnerable to online abuse because media organisations encourage them to maintain a strong and visible presence on social media.
While digital platforms benefit from higher user engagement, the accompanying risks—including trolling, harassment and doxing—are borne almost entirely by journalists themselves.
This imbalance illustrates the unequal distribution of power between digital platforms and media workers. Platforms profit from audience participation, yet they bear little responsibility for the negative consequences experienced by journalists.
Journalists as workers at risk
In today's digital landscape, journalism extends far beyond reporting the news. Journalists are increasingly expected to build personal brands, engage audiences across multiple platforms and actively promote their own reporting.
Studies conducted within international media organisations indicate that journalists are routinely encouraged to become more active on social media. Yet, when they become victims of harassment, threats or doxing, institutional support often proves inadequate.
This creates a troubling paradox. Media organisations expect journalists to maintain a strong online presence to attract audiences while simultaneously failing to provide sufficient protection when online attacks occur.
As a result, journalists frequently bear the psychological, personal safety and reputational consequences of digital harassment on their own.
Implications for press freedom and democracy
Doxing affects far more than individual journalists; it also poses a significant threat to press freedom.
The study "How Safe Is Journalism? Unpacking Risks and Implications for the Profession in Romania" found that persistent harassment, threats and digital attacks have led some journalists to self-censor, avoid reporting on sensitive topics or even leave the profession altogether.
When journalists fear reporting on controversial issues, society ultimately loses access to essential information. This weakens the media's role as a watchdog over governments, corporations and other centres of power.
In other words, doxing not only threatens journalists' personal safety but also undermines democratic processes by restricting the public's access to independent and comprehensive information.
Malaysia has also experienced setbacks in media freedom. According to the latest World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Malaysia dropped to 95th place out of 180 countries, compared with 88th the previous year.
Malaysia's overall score fell to 52.73, placing the country in the category of a "problematic situation."
The decline was driven by deteriorating performance across three key indicators:
Political: Media freedom and editorial independence from government interference.
Economic: Financial pressures and disruptions within the digital media ecosystem affecting the sustainability of the industry.
Legal: The use of laws and restrictions affecting reported online content.
If the digital ecosystem continues to deteriorate where social media becomes a platform for personal attacks against journalists, Malaysia's media standing within Asean may continue to lag behind countries such as Thailand.
RSF also identified Malaysia as one of the Asia-Pacific countries where "journalists are frequently subjected to strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs)," typically initiated by political or economic elites who exploit legal mechanisms that provide insufficient protection for the press.
The role of the Malaysian Media Council
In Malaysia, the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council presents an opportunity to strengthen protections for journalists facing digital threats.
Currently, 36 online news portals, 31 local media companies and three government media organisations are officially registered with the Department of Information Malaysia (JaPen).
Although the Council's primary mandate is to promote journalistic ethics and address public complaints relating to the media, its role could be expanded to include digital safety and journalist protection.
Among the initiatives worth considering are developing dedicated guidelines on doxing and online harassment targeting journalists, as well as providing digital security training for media practitioners.
Equally important is the establishment of a national database documenting incidents of harassment and doxing involving journalists in Malaysia.
From a political economy perspective, the Malaysian Media Council could serve as an institution that addresses the structural imbalance of power between media workers and increasingly influential digital platform companies.
Doxing is not merely an individual problem; it is deeply embedded within the broader power dynamics of today's digital media ecosystem. While digital platforms profit from user engagement, journalists shoulder escalating personal and professional risks.
For this reason, institutions such as the Malaysian Media Council play a critical role in safeguarding journalists' safety and ensuring that the privacy rights of media practitioners are protected.
Grace Aisyah Humairah Kedayan a postgraduate student pursuing a Master of Mass Communication at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam.
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of Sinar Daily.