In the wake of a tragic shooting that left two students dead and nine others injured, Brown University is taking a firm stance against what it calls "harmful doxxing activities." The university's spokesperson, Brian Clark, emphasized the importance of avoiding such actions while the investigation for the assailant continues.
Doxxing refers to the act of uncovering and disseminating private or identifiable information about someone online, typically with malicious intent. "Following the incident, we’ve observed harmful doxxing directed towards at least one individual affiliated with the Brown community," Clark stated.
He further warned, "It's crucial to understand that targeting individuals could lead to irreversible damage. The accusations, speculation, and conspiracy theories circulating on social media and in various news outlets are not only irresponsible but also pose real dangers to the safety of those involved."
During a press conference, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha addressed concerns regarding rumors surfacing online about a specific student, particularly in light of the removal of certain web pages related to this person from Brown's site. "Caution is warranted here," he advised. "There are numerous reasons a webpage might be taken down, and we should not jump to conclusions."
Brown University's President Christina Paxson, present at the same briefing, admitted her lack of knowledge regarding the page removals. While Clark chose not to elaborate on the rationale behind these actions, he supported Neronha’s perspective, stating, "It’s common practice to take necessary precautions to safeguard an individual’s well-being, especially in relation to their online presence during events like this."
Neronha cautioned against speculating on the identity of the shooter or motives behind the attack, labeling such conjecture as "a perilous path to tread." He assured the public, "If a particular name was relevant to this case, we would actively be searching for that individual and would inform you of our efforts."
Neronha’s response echoed previous sentiments after a person of interest in the shooting was released without charges, acknowledging the media's tendency to identify this individual by name following leaks to reporters. "Once that information is out, it's challenging to retract it," he noted.
