Lawsuit Against Doxxing Campaigns Highlights Growing Tensions Over Pro-Palestine Advocacy

In March 2024, the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) initiated a class-action lawsuit in Illinois against the organizations Canary Mission and StopAntisemitism, along with their funders and board members. This lawsuit addresses the organized doxxing and harassment campaigns targeting individuals who advocate for Palestine or criticize Israel. Laila Ali, a Chicago-based artist and activist, is among the six named plaintiffs, emphasizing the need for accountability for those engaging in such tactics. The lawsuit aims to provide relief for approximately 300 individuals whose personal information has been shared without consent, leading to harassment and threats.

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Doxxing, the act of publicly revealing private information, has been employed by pro-Israel groups like Canary Mission and StopAntisemitism to intimidate and silence critics. These organizations claim to have doxxed over 1,000 individuals, resulting in the termination of more than 400 from their jobs. The Illinois lawsuit utilizes the state's Civil Liability for Doxing Act, which took effect in January 2024, allowing victims to seek damages and injunctive relief against such practices.

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The lawsuit includes cases like that of Kinza Khan, who is seeking over $75,000 in damages after being doxxed by Canary Mission. Following the release of a video depicting her near a poster claiming "Kidnapped by Hamas," Khan faced severe emotional distress and harassment. Similarly, Laila Ali experienced job loss and online threats after her personal information was shared by StopAntisemitism. Both women describe the psychological impact of being targeted, with Ali stating, “It was incredibly stressful, very rattling, and isolating.”

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Laura Goldstein, another plaintiff, faced threats after her identity was revealed due to her role as a faculty advisor for Students for Justice in Palestine. Goldstein articulated the fear instilled by such campaigns, noting, “It’s like a cold wave of fear that just paralyzes your entire body.” Despite these challenges, plaintiffs express a commitment to continue their advocacy for Palestine.

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The CAIR-Chicago lawsuit seeks to challenge the legitimacy of organizations like Canary Mission and StopAntisemitism, which critics argue do not genuinely combat antisemitism but rather target dissenting voices. Noah Halpern, a staff attorney at CAIR-Chicago, stated that the lawsuit aims to highlight the harmful nature of these groups and their tactics. The case is still in its early stages, and its outcome could set a precedent for future legal actions against doxxing.

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• “This case represents addressing a broader harm caused by organized doxxing and harassment campaigns,” — Laila Ali, Activist

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• “That unfortunate and tragic weaponization of that terminology has been so harmful to so many people, and we’re in the process of unwrapping it now — that’s the work we’re doing [in this lawsuit].” — Laura Goldstein, Lecturer

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• “The day after I got doxxed, the following morning, I had a meeting via Zoom and [my employer] essentially said, ‘You didn’t do anything wrong, but we do have to terminate you.’ It was just too much bad PR for the company.” — Laila Ali, Activist

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The ongoing legal battle underscores the complexities surrounding free speech, advocacy, and the consequences of doxxing in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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