Is sharing someone's address online illegal?

Sharing someone's personal information online with the intent to cause distress or harm (known as doxxing) can be a criminal offence under UK law, including the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and the Malicious Communications Act 1988. Report it to the police.

How might someone have found our address?

Common ways include: geotagged photos on social media, public profiles mentioning school names, electoral roll data, metadata in uploaded files, social engineering (tricking your child into sharing it), or searching your child's real name in online directories. A digital footprint audit can help you identify and close these gaps.

Should we be worried about physical safety?

In the vast majority of cases, people who obtain addresses online do not physically visit. However, threats of any kind should be taken seriously and reported to the police. They will help you assess the level of risk and advise on any precautions.

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Someone Online Knows Our Home Address

Someone your child has been in contact with online — a stranger, gaming contact, or even a peer — now knows or has shared your home address, school name, or other personal location details. This may have been shared accidentally by your child, obtained through social engineering, or revealed via metadata, geotagging, or public profiles.

Discovering that someone online knows where your family lives is deeply unsettling. Your physical safety is the priority, and there are practical steps you can take right now to assess the level of risk and protect your family. In most cases, online contacts who obtain an address do not act on it physically — but it is right to take this seriously and involve the appropriate authorities.

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Assess the Immediate Threat

Consider who knows the address and the context. Is this a known peer (e.g. school bully) or an unknown person? Have they made any threats? If there is any direct threat of physical harm, call 999 immediately.

✗ Do not: Do not assume it is harmless — but equally, do not panic your child unnecessarily. Assess first, then act proportionately.

Secure Online Accounts

Change passwords on your child's accounts and enable two-factor authentication. Remove any personal information from public profiles — real name, school, photos with identifiable locations, and geotagged posts.

Report to the Platform

If your address was shared on a platform (doxxing), report the post or message for removal immediately. Most platforms have policies against sharing personal information without consent.

Contact the Police

Report the incident to the police on 101 (non-emergency) or 999 if there is a threat. Provide them with screenshots, usernames, and a timeline of events. Sharing someone's personal information online with intent to cause harm is an offence.

Review Family Digital Footprint

Search for your family's address online. Check social media profiles, public records, and websites for any personal information that is publicly visible. Remove or request removal of anything you find.

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✗Do not share the address situation on social media — this can attract further attention.
✗Do not confront the person who obtained the address. Let the police handle any investigation.
✗Do not move house in a panic. Assess the realistic level of threat with the police first.

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หากคุณต้องการรายงานต่อเจ้าหน้าที่หรือแพลตฟอร์ม หลักฐานสามารถช่วยได้

•Screenshot all messages, posts, or conversations where the address was shared or referenced, including the profile of the person involved.
•Save any threatening or intimidating messages with dates and times.
•Document how the address was likely obtained — was it shared by your child, extracted from metadata, or found publicly online?

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✓Explain that sharing location information online can have real-world consequences, but do so without blame. Focus on what you will do together to stay safe.
✓Teach your child about geotagging, metadata in photos, and why keeping their school name and address private matters.
✓If your child shared the information themselves, acknowledge that anyone can make a mistake and that the important thing is learning from it.