The rise of online hate and harassment on social media has become a significant concern, and doxing, the act of publishing someone’s personally identifiable information (PII) with the intent to cause harm, has been a particularly malicious form of online harassment.
Especially in the dating world.
Trent Law Firm in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, said enough is enough and has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Nikko D’ Ambrosio against Meta and the Facebook group, ‘Are We Dating The Same Guy?’ (AWDTSG) under the newly enacted anti-doxing law in the state.
The attorneys at Trent Law Firm, P.C. filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois for damages against Meta Platforms, Inc., subsidiaries, the “Are We Dating the Same Guy?” internet community (AWDTSG, Inc.) and individual defendants as a result of a campaign of abuse, harassment, and defamation orchestrated by the Defendants against men all throughout the country titled D’Ambrosio v. Meta Platforms, Inc., according to a release from the firm.
According to the lawsuit, Trent Law Firm (TLF) intends to request certification of the case as a Class Action Lawsuit to “defend the rights of thousands of individuals throughout the nation” who have been defamed and harassed by the “Are We Dating the Same Guy?” community and those who administrate or promote such activities.
“The Trent Law Firm firmly believes that the evidence will show that our client (Nikko D’ Ambrosio) is a victim of a systemic attack against his reputation for the sole purpose of monetary enrichment,” said TLF. “We hold firmly that there are many other victims similarly situated.”
D’Ambrosio is seeking damages exceeding $75,000 and injunctive relief to prevent the defendants from continuing to publish statements about him in the group.
Haven’t heard of AWDTSG? Let’s dive in.
Online dating has revolutionized the way people meet and connect with potential partners.
With over 320 million people worldwide using dating apps as their primary avenue to meet new people, the digital landscape of dating has become a complex and sometimes treacherous realm.
While it is common to explore connections with multiple people simultaneously, the prevalence of lies, deceit, and catfishing on dating apps has created a need for transparency and accountability.
In response, a Facebook group called ‘Are We Dating the Same Guy?’ has emerged as a platform for women to verify if their male partners are seeing other people and to warn each other of potential red flags.
This group, which started in New York in 2022, has now expanded to most major cities across the globe.
In these groups, members can anonymously post screenshots of men’s dating profiles and ask for feedback from the community, “Red Flag or Tea.”
Measures are in place to protect the anonymity of the women posting, but for the men, it’s open season.
“These men have a “Digital Scarlet Letter” being placed upon them, and thousands of men are being publicly shamed for things that they may or may not have done,” said Daniel Nikolic, Senior Attorney with Trent Law Firm. “These men have no other recourse for these women publicly ostracizing them. It is like a person giving a bad YELP review, but the establishment owner can refute the review. In these groups, men have no recourse to defend themselves and, in most cases, do not even know they have this “Digital Scarlet Letter” on them.”
While the First Amendment protects the groups themselves, individuals can cross the line into defamation if they make false statements about someone. Dating discourse is subjective, and people’s perceptions of a date may not align.
According to a report by VICE, Andre, a 27-year-old Londoner, was caught in the crossfire of a post about him in the city’s Are We Dating the Same Guy? group.
His date accused him of being pushy, while Andre claimed she behaved oddly before abruptly leaving.
“I knew I was in that group because I heard it from multiple sources,” he told VICE, “and obviously her side doesn’t match my side. We had a miscommunication and then I’m hearing from girls I grew up with that I’m a creep or that I did something. I don’t think these groups are helpful to anyone.”
The Need for Legal Recourse
Doxing victims often find themselves vulnerable and exposed, facing the repercussions of having their private information weaponized against them.
Until now, Illinois law has not adequately addressed this issue, leaving victims without legal recourse. However, with the enactment of the Civil Liability for Doxing Act, victims can now seek justice and hold their attackers accountable.
Introduced by State Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-17) and sponsored by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-29), the Act aims to fill the existing gaps in Illinois law.
It provides victims with the means to seek monetary damages and other forms of relief while granting judges the authority to issue injunctive relief to halt the unlawful acts of doxers.
“Many men will suffer irreparable harm because of such posts, and some will be barred from physical social settings because someone may have seen a bad review,” said Nikolic. “Now, men have to worry about how they will be “rated” on every date.”
“If the roles were reversed and men were rating women in these groups, there would be a huge outcry,” said Nikolic.
Key Provisions of the Illinois Civil Liability for Doxing Act
The Civil Liability for Doxing Act is carefully crafted to ensure it does not infringe upon free speech or other forms of expression protected by the U.S. and Illinois constitutions. It establishes a two-pronged threshold that must be met before any damages can be awarded to a victim:
- The person posting the personally identifiable information does so with knowledge or reckless disregard that the victim would likely suffer death, bodily injury, or stalking.
- The victim must suffer specific types of harm outlined in the bill.
By setting these criteria, the legislation protects victims and preserves the right to freedom of expression.
In a statement to Tampa Free Press, Trent Law Firm said, “The Trent Law Firm takes the harassment and defamation of people very seriously. The Trent Law Firm has been fighting for victims for over 50 years and will zealously continue to fight for the victims.”
Android Users, Click To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our free newsletter.
We can’t do this without your help. Visit our GiveSendGo page and donate any dollar amount; every penny helps.