Civil Rights Group Urges Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee to Vote Favorably on Senate Bill 889
Today, the Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) applauded the courage of several students who gathered in Annapolis to testify in support of a pivotal bill aimed at enhancing protections for students against bullying, cyberbullying, and doxxing.
Doxxing—the malicious act of publicly exposing an individual’s private information without consent—has led to
devastating consequences for victims.
TAKE ACTION: Urge Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee to Pass SB889 to Protect Students From Doxxing
Link: bit.ly/senatebill889
Senate Bill 889 seeks to create a safer and more inclusive learning environment by expanding existing anti-bullying laws to provide protections not only to minors, but also to students in both secondary and post-secondary education. It was inspired by the ordeal of two University of Maryland students who faced doxxing attacks leading to death threats last Fall. Campus police notified CAIR that they could not take action because the students resided “in off campus housing and existing laws don’t address such incidents.”
The bill hearing featured powerful testimonies from students who bravely shared their experiences or observations of doxxing attacks and the devastating impact they can have on physical safety, mental health and educational success. The proposed legislation expands on Grace’s Law which was first enacted by the Maryland General Assembly in 2013 following the tragic passing of 15-year-old HCPSS student Grace McComas. It was then expanded in 2019 to encompass incidents that occur on social media and via email and text messaging, recognizing the complex challenges of an evolving digital era and the nature of online abuse.
“Student witnesses who eloquently shared their experiences before committee members are courageously advocating for change not only themselves, but also for many others who have suffered silently through such attacks, as well as for future generations coming after them,” said CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. “We thank Senator Shaneka Henson for prioritizing this bill that is a long-overdue, crucial step in protecting their rights. CAIR urges lawmakers to prioritize their well-being by passing it.”
SB 889 offers vital protections by:
- Prohibiting the intentional distribution of students’ personal identifying information without consent if done with malicious intent or reckless disregard for harm.
- Recognizing the severe emotional, psychological, and physical risks that result from doxxing.
- Establishing clear legal consequences for perpetrators, ensuring accountability and deterrence.
- Reaffirming First Amendment rights by balancing protections against targeted harassment with free speech considerations.
In its testimony, CAIR said in part:
“Maryland has among the strongest anti-bullying laws in our country, but in today’s day and age, these are outdated and simply don’t go far enough. The rise of online extremism, swatting, and coordinated harassment campaigns has made legislation like SB889 increasingly necessary. The passage of Senate Bill 889 would further protect students from digital harassment in an era where online attacks can have devastating consequences.
Grace was only 15 years old when our system failed to protect her. She should be here today, with her family. We simply cannot allow our system to fail more students because we did not take action. No student, regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, or any protected
classification, should ever have to worry about being defenseless and unable to protect themselves from these malicious attacks.”
CAIR is committed to advocating for the rights of students and ensuring that all educational institutions are safe havens for learning and personal growth. The organization encourages community members to support this important initiative by contacting their representatives and voicing their support for the bill.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, [email protected], 410-971-6062; CAIR Maryland Outreach Coordinator Kimberly Syuardi, [email protected], 202-850-9293