Muslim Unity Works

One of the consequences of standing up for truth and justice is being targeted by those who seek to vilify Palestine and its advocates. If you should find yourself a victim of unscrupulous actors coming after your online reputation, here are some helpful steps to take.

First, report what happened to you to organizations like Convocation Design or 7amleh, a Palestinian digital rights organization.  They can help with online hate speech, incitement, smear campaigns and more.

Legal measures against doxing remain limited, though laws are evolving. Organizations like Palestine Legal cannot currently assist with doxing, but the following summarizes legal options and practical steps you can take. If doxing affects your employment or immigration status, Palestine Legal can refer you to relevant attorneys in their network.  

If someone shares information about you from public sources, like your social media or public recordings, the law usually protects their right to post it over your right to object. However, if the information was stolen or obtained illegally, you may have legal options for privacy invasion and might get the content removed from Google search results.  

People may consider filing a defamation lawsuit, but if websites publish factual information—such as your school or club memberships—or express opinions about you, like calling you racist or antisemitic, these typically do not provide grounds for successful legal action. However, if false statements of fact are published that negatively affect your reputation, such as attributing actions or statements to you that are untrue, an attorney who is familiar with defamation law may be able to assist.

Another legal issue related to your doxing profile is the use of your photo. You own the copyright to any photo you take, so a doxing website may violate copyright law if they use your selfie without your consent, allowing you to request its removal. If someone else took the photo, the photographer owns the copyright and must make the removal request. While this won’t necessarily lead to the removal of your entire profile, it can be beneficial for some individuals.

The most effective ways to address doxing are often non-legal. 

Reporting search results related to your name is crucial, as this is how many people find doxing profiles. If you see a doxing website in your Google search results, click the three dots next to the site name, select “Remove result,” and choose a reason. You can select “It shows my contact info with intent to harm me” or “It contains illegal info” to report copyright infringement. Google may take more action soon, and we hope to provide updates on that in the future.

You can use search engine optimization (SEO) to push down sites like Canary Mission in your Google search rankings. Here are some resources that discuss SEO. Be cautious, as some may try to sell their services; it’s best to follow their free advice rather than pay for it:

1. JoinDeleteMe: How to Push Down Negative Search Results: (https://help.joindeleteme.com/hc/en-us/articles/8323242048019-How-to-Push-Down-Negative-Search-Results)
2. Spin Sucks: Personal SEO: (https://spinsucks.com/communication/personal-seo/)
3. BrandYourself: Online Reputation Management: (https://brandyourself.com/online-reputation-management)
4. BrandYourself: Advanced Guide to Fixing Negative Search Results: (https://brandyourself.com/university/guide/advanced-guide-to-fixing-negative-search-results)

Some individuals have successfully encouraged their school to create a student or alumni profile, which can rank higher than their Canary Mission profiles on Google. Here’s some advice on search engine optimization:

Pages to Create:

• LinkedIn: This is essential for building your online reputation and typically ranks high. Consider omitting your current employer information, as doxers may contact your workplace.
• Facebook: Facebook profiles also perform well in search results. If your profile isn’t appearing, check the privacy settings to see if search engines like Google can link to it.
• X/Twitter: This platform is beneficial because Google displays tweets alongside links, taking up more space and pushing Canary Mission further down the page.
• Additional Options: Consider creating a blog, a digital portfolio, or a bio on your organization’s staff page—whatever suits you best.

Ensure consistency in your name across all accounts. 

• Complete bios wherever possible, using third-person language. For example, instead of “I am a software engineer,” use “John Doe is a software engineer” to improve search rankings.
• Include profile pictures, as they can enhance visibility and may appear in search results, potentially overshadowing doxing sites.
• Create interlinks between your accounts. For instance, include links to your X/Twitter, LinkedIn, and blog in your Facebook bio, and vice versa. This mutual linking can improve the search rankings of both your blog and Facebook page.
• Avoid linking to doxing sites like Canary Mission, even in a negative context. Limit clicks on such links; consider taking screenshots to share information without driving traffic to those sites.
• Be ready to discuss your doxing if it comes up in conversations at work or elsewhere. Focus on explaining why Palestine matters to you and the motivations behind the smear campaign. Prepare a concise 30-second explanation about your situation and practice it to feel confident when addressing inquiries. Many people recognize the malicious intent of such sites, and some may give you a chance to share your perspective before forming an opinion.

Here’s an example of what you can say:

“Canary Mission is a covert blacklisting website that compiles detailed profiles of thousands of individuals, including their employment histories and links to social media. It defames students and faculty by labeling them as supporters of terrorism and antisemitism, exposing them to harassment and threats from pro-Israel advocates on platforms like X/Twitter and Facebook. The site predominantly targets Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and other students and faculty of color, leading to significant risks of doxing and harassment.

This environment creates a chilling effect, making many individuals from these already marginalized communities reluctant to participate in meetings, make public statements, or teach courses advocating for Palestinian rights. They fear that such actions could jeopardize their employment, immigration status, and even their physical safety.”

While it’s impossible to completely eliminate the risk of online harassment, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and reduce potential harm. Here are some valuable digital security resources:

• Equality Labs’ Anti-Doxing Guide for Activists Facing Attacks offers detailed strategies for those facing targeted harassment.
• Explore additional digital security resources from Equality Labs available here.
• Review information on good digital hygiene to maintain a secure online presence. Regularly check the information available about you online and remove anything unnecessary.

Social media platforms and hosting providers typically prohibit online harassment in their terms of use. If you or someone else is targeted, report the violation and encourage others to do the same.

Given recent pressures on employers to dismiss individuals who express solidarity with Palestine, be cautious about sharing current employer information.

Consider utilizing paid services that can help remove your information from data broker websites for added protection.