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By
thekollab
- 5 min read
By
thekollab
Famous crypto-trader and key-opinion-leader “TraderSZ” (@trader1sz), who – at the time of writing – has over 530,000 followers on Twitter, had his personal information exposed on the social platform. The nefarious act was carried out by fellow crypto-Twitter user, @ImNotTheWolf – whose profile has since been deleted.
The intentional doxxing on May 5th 2023 seemingly came out of nowhere and finally put a face to the user-name of the [previously] anonymous Twitter personality. Not only that, but the malicious post struck a double-blow by simultaneously revealing TraderSZ’s real name – as the mysteriously acquired information was non-other than TraderSZ’s KYC documentation.
While we don’t yet know how or why the sensitive personal information was acquired, what is clear is that a serious breach of personal-data is at the heart of this issue. TraderSZ will obviously know which platform – presumably a centralised exchange – the KYC documents were submitted to and we believe that he is well within his legal rights to demand answers about how they were obtained by the ill-intended doxxer.
In an ironic turn of fate, just days before having his KYC docs posted online, TraderSZ questioned the reservations some peers had expressed about submitting their own info for KYC purposes.
Why not KYC? ... I think everyone will have to at some point so in my opinion just get it over with.
In response to the egregious leaks, TraderSZ played it cool by advising the doxxer to use more up to date pictures instead of one “where I’ve had surgery and put weight on”. Though, in the same Tweet, he also dropped an immediate hint on legal recourse to follow.
SZ owned the moment by posting selfies of his own volition. He later asked his followers which one he should use as his new profile picture.
At least put up a pic of a fresh haircut.
SZ responded to one fan who asked about livestreams now featuring the trader on-screen: “Yeah why not? Was going to soon anyway”.
While seeming to brush off the unwarranted reveal as not a particularly damaging attack, SZ also called upon his followers to report the “fool” responsible. He then further made clear of his intent to sue, citing GDPR protection.
Under the GDPR, companies that process personal data are required to implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure the security of the personal data they hold. If the company was found to have breached the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, it could be liable for up to ~£17.5M in fines and other penalties imposed by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection regulator.
In addition, the GDPR gives individuals the right to sue for damages if they have suffered material or non-material damage as a result of a breach of their personal data. Material damage could include financial losses, such as the cost of replacing a credit card that was stolen as a result of the breach. Non-material damage could include emotional distress or reputational harm caused by the breach.
In the UK, the courts would assess the amount of damages based on the specific circumstances of the case and any losses suffered by TraderSZ as a result of the breach. There is no fixed amount that TraderSZ could sue for, as each case would be assessed on its own merits.
Essentially, the company that TraderSZ submitted his KYC docs to is potentially on the hook for up to £17.5M in fines from the ICO, in addition to whatever claims TraderSZ can make in the UK’s civil courts pertaining to damages he has suffered as a consequence.
They broke all GDPR rules
— XO (@Trader_XO) May 5, 2023
Big big mistake
As for the currently unknown culprit who shared TraderSZ’s private information, the legal ramification could be very serious. Doxxing violates the rights granted under GDPR protections and could result in fines & other penalties from the ICO.
TraderSZ could pursue civil claims against the individual who shared his KYC information, such as claims for damages for breach of privacy or defamation. Additionally, the person responsible could even face criminal charges relating to harassment and stalking.
In classic social media form, TraderSZ’s Twitter replies were full of “legal experts” weighing in and offering their advice.
Sufficed to say, crypto-Twitter’s reaction to the doxxing was almost unanimous condemnation of the act. SZ’s supporters – comprising of both anonymous & public-facing figures alike – have rallied behind the trader with calls for justice to be served.
Go for the kill
— XO (@Trader_XO) May 5, 2023
Get yourself an attorney bro and do what’s necessary
Mate they are so fucked it’s not even a joke. If you can recall which project you sent that to when onboarding we will go after them with both barrels.
— Les (@TheCryptoLes) May 5, 2023
I see @trader1sz almost every week doxing himself on insta, that picture is definitely not current. Current form is chadly.
— HORSE (@CanteringClark) May 5, 2023
Also, sharing some business income as if that means anything? Probably just reported to satisfy the minimum requirements in order to get incorporated.…
The question beckons… will the internet do its usual thing and hunt down the true identify of the person responsible? Only time will tell but the internet has a fairly good track record of achieving such things. If this end up being the case, what a losing situation it will turn out to be for whomever was behind the spiteful behaviour.
A key debate this case raises is the pros & cons of remaining anonymous in the wild world of crypto-Twitter versus being a publicly-known figure.
There are several benefits to remaining anonymous online as a key-opinion-leader in the crypto-trading space on Twitter, including protection of personal information, reduced liability, greater freedom of expression, and separation of personal and professional life. However, there are also potential drawbacks, such as reduced credibility and difficulty in building trust with your audience. Ultimately, the decision to remain anonymous will depend on individual circumstances and priorities.
Whatever the case may be, we believe it should be up to the personal wishes of the individual whether or not to reveal their identity to the crypto-Twitter community, which is why we condemn any act of doxxing against a fellow KOL.
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Copyright 2024 TheKollab.