Internet research on a person can be useful and appropriate in certain situations, such as:
- Employment screening: Employers may conduct online research on job candidates to verify their education, work history, and professional qualifications.
- Background checks: Individuals or organizations may conduct background checks on potential business partners, vendors, or contractors to ensure that they have a good reputation and no criminal record.
- Due diligence: Investors or venture capitalists may conduct research on a company and its founders before deciding to invest in the business.
- Investigative journalism: Journalists may use online research to investigate a story, gather evidence, and fact-check information.
- Personal safety: Individuals may use online research to verify the identity of someone they have met online or to investigate potential threats to their safety.
It’s important to note that internet research should always be conducted ethically and legally. It’s not acceptable to use online research to harass, intimidate, or harm someone, or to engage in any illegal or unethical behavior.
Do not doxx anyone.
Doxxing is the act of publicly revealing or sharing someone’s personal information online without their consent, with the intent to harass, intimidate, embarrass, or harm them in some way. This can include information such as a person’s name, address, phone number, email address, social media profiles, workplace, or any other identifying information.
Doxxing is often used as a tool for online harassment or activism, and can have serious real-world consequences for the victim, including threats, stalking, identity theft, and even physical harm. It is also illegal in many jurisdictions and can result in criminal charges and civil lawsuits.