Anti-doxing legislation inspired by online threats against a Covington Catholic School student following events in Washington D.C. last year is awaiting a vote from the full Senate.
Teenager Nick Sandmann became the object of online scorn when photos and videos surfaced showing him and other students in an encounter with a Native American activist during “Catholics Day at the Capitol.”
Full video evidence later showed the teens were approached first and did not instigate the viral encounter. That didn’t stop some from putting Sandmann’s address and other personal information online, which Senator Whitney Westerfield of Christian County says is part of doxing.
He says Senate Bill 182 would make it a misdemeanor crime to post personal information of a victim under the age of 18 online while encouraging violence.
The Kentucky Association of Lawyers is against the bill, saying the legislation is too broad.
Another bill that has made headlines, legislation to legalize sports gambling, has yet to receive a full House vote. Representative Myron Dossett is opposed to the measure and doesn’t believe it has the votes in the House to pass, despite bi-partisan support it received in committee.
Representative Walker Thomas of Hopkinsville has also expressed his opposition to legalized sports betting.