online vigilantism
Online Vigilantism- Good or Bad?
Introduction
Today internet has become an indispensable part of our lives and access to it has increased tremendously over the last decade. The advancement in technology and use of social media has thus given rise to increased occurrences of online vigilantism or cyber vigilantism. Vigilantes use blogging and social media to express their thoughts. Amateur sleuths come together through these social media and other websites. Their motive may be purely to help and fight for justice when they think justice has not been served, but most of the times the unwanted help misfires and worse are its aftermath. So the debate is whether online vigilantism is good or bad. We shall discuss about the repercussions when vigilantism misfires and suggest some solutions for the vigilantes and the government.
What is Internet Vigilantism?
A vigilante is a person who thinks the government or justice system is ineffective and takes up law in his own hand. “Vigilantism operates outside the official structure of the law and lacks the safeguards and protections for the rights of the accused that are inherent in the criminal justice system.” (Vigilantism, 2003)
Internet vigilantism is nothing but vigilantes using internet to perform their vigilante missions through means of social media, blogging or websites. It arises with the motive to right the wrong either by violent or unofficial means, leaving warnings, public/cyber shaming, counter terrorism, identify theft activity, etc.(Wehmhoener K., 2010. ) But, with the intention to do help or fight till justice is served, people fail to realize that they are unknowingly or knowingly acting outside the justice system and at times harassing people.
See below a few examples where online vigilantism misfired and their repercussions:
1. George Zimmerman case
A community neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida, George Zimmerman, shot and killed an unarmed 17-year-old boy as a suspect for the thefts. After
Introduction
Today internet has become an indispensable part of our lives and access to it has increased tremendously over the last decade. The advancement in technology and use of social media has thus given rise to increased occurrences of online vigilantism or cyber vigilantism. Vigilantes use blogging and social media to express their thoughts. Amateur sleuths come together through these social media and other websites. Their motive may be purely to help and fight for justice when they think justice has not been served, but most of the times the unwanted help misfires and worse are its aftermath. So the debate is whether online vigilantism is good or bad. We shall discuss about the repercussions when vigilantism misfires and suggest some solutions for the vigilantes and the government.
What is Internet Vigilantism?
A vigilante is a person who thinks the government or justice system is ineffective and takes up law in his own hand. “Vigilantism operates outside the official structure of the law and lacks the safeguards and protections for the rights of the accused that are inherent in the criminal justice system.” (Vigilantism, 2003)
Internet vigilantism is nothing but vigilantes using internet to perform their vigilante missions through means of social media, blogging or websites. It arises with the motive to right the wrong either by violent or unofficial means, leaving warnings, public/cyber shaming, counter terrorism, identify theft activity, etc.(Wehmhoener K., 2010. ) But, with the intention to do help or fight till justice is served, people fail to realize that they are unknowingly or knowingly acting outside the justice system and at times harassing people.
See below a few examples where online vigilantism misfired and their repercussions:
1. George Zimmerman case
A community neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida, George Zimmerman, shot and killed an unarmed 17-year-old boy as a suspect for the thefts. After
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