The potential efficacy of restorative justice for doxxing victims in Hong Kong’s Police Force

Abstract

This paper examines whether or not restorative justice (RJ) would be effective in helping Hong Kong doxxing victims overcome their victimization using cyberbullying and RJ theories. Based on 22 interviews with doxxing victims who are members of or related to Hong Kong’s police force, this research provides valuable insight into the psychological harms faced by the victims of doxxing, cultural considerations to take into account when implementing a RJ system, how restorative justice meetings could be structured, and if this process would be effective in restoring victims' trust in society. Our findings show that the restorative justice process would help some victims recover from their victimization to some extent. Our research also reveals some factors about doxxing that may prove to be barriers for the restorative justice process restoring victims to their former feelings of safety in society.