Texas doxxing — Penal Code § 42.074

Texas doxxing is a criminal offense under Penal Code § 42.074. Punishment ranges depending on the specific subsection, prior-conviction enhancements, and statutory aggravators. Below: the controlling statute text, the full punishment range, common defense theories, and what to do if you have been charged in Collin, Dallas, Denton, or Tarrant County.

The controlling statute

Texas Penal Code § 42.074 — enacted by the 88th Legislature in 2023 — criminalizes posting another person's residential address or telephone number on a publicly accessible platform with intent to cause harm or threaten the person or their family. The statute responds to the rise of online doxxing campaigns targeting public officials, journalists, and private citizens. Posting publicly available information is not enough; the State must prove the requisite intent and that the post was made in retaliation for protected status or activity.

Classification & punishment range

Elements the State must prove

To convict on a Texas § 42.074 charge, the State must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt:

1. Defendant posted a victim's address or phone number on a publicly accessible website or platform
2. Defendant intended to cause harm or a threat to the victim or family
3. Victim suffered fear, harm, or injury from the post
4. Defendant did not have consent to publish the information

Defense strategies

L and L Law Group, PLLC develops the following defense strategies on every Doxxing case:

• Lack of intent — information was shared without intent to harm or threaten
• Information was already publicly available through proper channels
• First Amendment protection for commentary on public officials' conduct
• No causation between post and any claimed injury under § 6.04
• Consent — victim previously published the same information
• Account compromise — defendant did not make the post (digital-forensics defense)

Enhancements & collateral consequences

Under § 42.074(b)(2), if the doxxing causes bodily injury to the victim, the offense becomes a state jail felony. Targeting peace officers, judges, or prosecutors under § 36.06 or § 38.15 may support parallel charges. Stalking under § 42.072 often runs concurrently when the doxxing is part of a broader course of conduct.