Support SF 35 and HF 849

What is happening online in our communities is causing real and lasting harm. Too many people no longer feel safe speaking publicly, defending themselves, or simply living their lives without fear of being targeted. That is why this petition exists and why Iowa legislators must make SF 35 and HF 849 a priority.

Over the past several months, I have witnessed a sustained pattern of online harassment and intimidation affecting people across our communities. Those targeted have included law enforcement officers, dispatchers, city employees, elected officials, teachers, small business owners, and private citizens. What I observed went far beyond criticism or disagreement.

Personal information was shared publicly, including phone numbers, workplaces, and home locations, sometimes accompanied by photographs. Family members were pulled into the harassment as well, including spouses and children who had nothing to do with the original disputes.

As this behavior spread, it became clear that the harm was not limited to people with public roles. Ordinary individuals with no platform, no legal knowledge, and no practical way to defend themselves were being targeted. Many were left to navigate fear, stress, and isolation on their own.

I have seen the real human cost of online doxxing. I have watched people develop severe anxiety and depression after sustained harassment. I have seen people quit jobs, withdraw from their communities, and even move away simply to feel safe again. In many cases, this harm was triggered by inaccurate claims, gossip presented as fact, or speculation without evidence. Even when information was corrected, the damage was already done.

Doxxing is intimidation, and it thrives in the absence of clear boundaries.

I have personally witnessed private individuals become targets simply for expressing an opinion or agreeing with a post. Their reputations, employment, and sense of safety were affected despite having done nothing wrong. This kind of public shaming shows how dangerous and unregulated this behavior has become.

No law will eliminate all harmful behavior online. This petition is not asking for a perfect solution or an overnight fix. However, SF 35 and HF 849 would make this conduct harder to carry out without consequence. These bills would create a moment of pause before someone decides to spread false claims, share personal information, or place another person and their family at risk.

Without clear legal boundaries, this intimidation will continue to escalate. Communities need tools to protect people who are being seriously targeted before the harm becomes irreversible.

I advocate publicly under the name Budget Batman and use a private email for correspondence. This is not about avoiding accountability. It is about protecting my family and ensuring I can continue speaking out without becoming another example of the harm this legislation is meant to prevent.

This issue is not abstract. It is not theoretical. It is happening now, to people who live and work in Iowa.

By signing this petition, you are asking Iowa legislators to take online harassment and doxxing seriously. You are asking them to recognize the real-world harm being caused and to make SF 35 and HF 849 a priority this legislative session.

Your signature is a statement that intimidation is not accountability, and that people deserve protection from targeted online harassment.