Doxxing Needs to Be Handled Differently
As of January 17th of 2025, I had been doxxed live on my stream, the user having mu street address as their username, then saying the following: "Hello [full legal name] of [my full legal address, including state and zip] whos phone number is [my phone number]." Before my moderator and I were able to ban and block this user, they followed me so my street address would stay on the screen.
The moderator that was there that night reported this individual as soon as they realized this was my private information. They got a default response saying the report would be addressed soon. Roughly an hour after stream ended, they received a message saying action had been taken. They did not say how or in what way.
I was shell shocked when this happened, but when I recovered a bit, I reported the account in the morning. I made a ticket through their contact page, as I was unaware of how to report an account. I got a default response saying they would address my situation. An hour later, they responded, saying I was not addressing this the traditional way and told me to report them as I should have. They ignored the fact they doxxed me. I got a default response when I reported the traditional way they asked for immediately, and I have not heard anything since then. I am surprised there was no more detail about the actions they took, as the severity of doxxing doesn't feel like it was taken as seriously as it should. Their phrasing gives way to the smallest punishment being possibly just an account removal, as opposed to something permanent like the IP ban they mentioned being possible in the email, or legal action being taken through Twitch.
I am unable to contact my local authorities regarding this issue. This is due to my location. Where I live, there would be no chance of a case standing in court. The police closest to my area are only volunteers, we have no actual authority. Even if I discussed this with another town nearby, it would be dismissed and I would be told sorry, and that be it. This is due to the police in my area not willing to investigate situations like this. And, as much as I hate to say it, it also does not help that I am a woman. Female cases get dismissed quickly where I live.
The best I can do is contact Twitch regarding this case. They only told me to report them, as submitting a ticket through their contact page was ‘not sent the proper way.’ Ever since I submitted again, all I received was an automatic response on that same day. For all I know, this user could make another account and submit the same information. They didn’t tell me nor my moderator if anything will actually be done to stop this from happening again.
It has been over 72 hours since then as of writing this, and Twitch has still not done anything about this user. They have not replied to me at all, and I find this idea disgusting. In order to get anything done, you have to gain the attention of hundreds of thousands of individuals on Twitter JUST for a reply back. Not every small creator that has been doxxed can get this kind of attention. Not everyone will be able to get the help needed for a situation like this. So to see Twitch is not caring about their small creators is outright infuriating. The way doxxing is handled needs to be changed entirely. I and other victims like me should be able to reach out to an actual HUMAN BEING for this CRIME and receive the help they need from the streaming service they give benefit and value to. I should not have to try to get the attention of big streamers you all prefer just to get a response in regards of my safety, and no one should for that matter. Do better, Twitch.