Police on Monday said trans activists accused of “doxing” by JK Rowling have committed no criminal offence.
The Harry Potter author, 56, had accused three trans activists of taking photos outside her house carefully positioning themselves to make her address visible in a way that could prompt more threats after her controversial views on transgender people caused an outcry on social media.
In a series of tweets at the time, Rowling wrote: “Last Friday, my family’s address was posted on Twitter by three activist actors who took pictures of themselves in front of our house, carefully positioning themselves to ensure that our address was visible.
“I want to say a massive thank you to everybody who reported the image to @TwitterSupport. Your kindness and decency made all the difference to my family and me. I’d also like to thank @PoliceScotland for their support and assistance in this matter.
“I implore those people who retweeted the image with the address still visible, even if they did so in condemnation of these people’s actions, to delete it.”
Despite the backlash, Ms Rowling vowed to never stop speaking her mind and opinions – no matter how controversial.
The author quipped she had received so many death threats she could “paper the house with them”.
She went on: “I have to assume the trolls doxxing me would intimidate me out of speaking up for women’s sex-based rights. They should have reflected on the fact that I’ve now received so many death threats I could paper the house with them, and I haven’t stopped speaking out.
“Perhaps – and I’m just throwing this out there – the best way to prove your movement isn’t a threat to women, is to stop stalking, harassing and threatening us.”
The Harry Potter mastermind reached out to her supporters who she said like her had been “subject to campaigns of intimidation” including being targeted online.
In a statement on Monday, a spokesperson for Police Scotland said “no criminality has been established” following inquiries.
The campaigners deleted the photo the day after it was posted.
They said the decision was made after they received “serious and threatening transphobic messages”.
The row broke out after JK Rowling responded to an article headlined “Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate”.
She tweeted: “‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
The author defended her comments, adding: “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction.”
