A pseudonym, a face, a name. On November 11, the X account “Sword of Salomon” claimed to have unmasked the man hiding behind “Marcel”, a pro-LFI activist account followed by more than 200,000 people. In his post, he associated an assumed identity with a photograph and old messages. He also called on his employer to demand sanctions, reports HuffPost. The rebellious deputy Aurélien Saintoul contacted the public prosecutor, denouncing an “illegal action of intimidation”.
Doxing or doxxing, privacy exposed
Doxing, or doxxing, consists of publishing without their consent information allowing the identification or location of a person: name, address, telephone number, employer or even photograph. This exposure can be used to intimidate, harass or harm someone.
The consequences can be serious. In February 2024, Le Monde reported that pro-Israeli activists were broadcasting the phone numbers of pro-Palestinian sympathizers on Telegram. A few weeks later, in March 2024, MP Thomas Portes wrongly designated a young Frenchman as a torturer in Gaza (BFMTV). The young man and his family then received death threats.
Who is “Marcel”?
Behind the pseudonym @realmarcel1 is a left-wing activist account supporting La France insoumise, followed by more than 200,000 subscribers. In his biography, its author presents himself as being at the head of his eighth account: “The order does not like me so I adapt. » Since the revelation of his supposed identity, he assures that he does not intend to remain silent: “We will not stop talking about Palestine. » His publications regularly display an offensive tone. On the war in Gaza, he writes in particular: “It is not a controversy, it is a genocide. » He also attacks the French justice system, which he accuses of “giving in to the genocidaires”, as well as the supporters of Israel and the institutions which he judges to be too complacent towards them.
Who is behind “Sword of Solomon”?
The Sword of Salomon account (@SwordOfSalomon) has around 55,000 subscribers on X. Very active, he regularly publishes messages in which he accuses Internet users of anti-Semitic remarks or support for Hamas. He sometimes directly challenges their employers or the institutions to which they are linked. His identity remains unknown. In June 2025, he claimed to have exposed around a hundred people since October 7, 2023, revealing their identity, their face and their city. Among his recent publications is also that of November 11, 2026, in which he claims to have identified the man behind the “Marcel” account.
He accuses “Marcel” of having, since October 7, 2023, minimized anti-Semitism in France and made comments that he considers anti-Semitic. He attributes to him in particular messages denouncing excessive influence of the CRIF in the public debate. Sword of Salomon sees this as the resumption of an anti-Semitic cliché. He also accuses him of having described as “genocidal” the supporters of the war waged by Israel in Gaza, of having supported the historian Julien Théry, sanctioned by the University of Lyon-II after accusations of anti-Semitism. As well as relaying calls for violence and insurrection. However, these elements remain accusations against targets who denounce harassment. In December 2025, a CGT unionist from France Télévisions filed a complaint against Sword of Salomon for moral harassment, according to L’Humanité.
What does the law say?
The term “doxing” does not appear in the Penal Code. But since the law of August 24, 2021, article 223-1-1 punishes the dissemination of personal information allowing the identification or location of a person when it aims to expose them or their loved ones to a direct risk of harm to their person or their property. However, revealing a name is not automatically enough to characterize a crime. Justice must examine the intention of the perpetrator and the risk to which the person is exposed. Penalties can reach three years in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros, or even five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros in certain aggravating circumstances, particularly when the victim exercises certain protected functions. Those who relay a publication can also be prosecuted, if their complicity is demonstrated. For its part, X prohibits in its regulations revealing the identity of an anonymous user without their consent.
