What is internet vigilantism?
Internet vigilantism is the extrajudicial prosecution, and often sentencing, of alleged wrongdoings by individuals or groups over the internet. It is often perpetrated through the identification of alleged offenders and the subsequent publication of their personal information. Through social networking sites and news-feeds it invites affiliates and non-affiliates to join in the process, and can lead to consequences as light as public shaming to harassment, death threats and psychological/physical danger.
The internet is for most of its users a seemingly limitless space where an impenetrable cloak of anonymity shields the user from his or her “real life”. In recent years it has been gradually revealed to not be the case at all, as there are dozens if not hundreds of ways to link individuals to their online personas, some being public and legal measures or others through subterfuge and exploiting security loopholes.
In recent years there seems to be a growing trend of internet-based social and political activism. Emboldened by increasing media attention we can witness burgeoning organization and familiar groups taking leadership roles on many different fronts. It is sometimes hard NOT to cheer for those who are willing to take justice into their own hands - our pop culture, pundits and perhaps even human nature applaud and glorify their efforts. They do seem after all much more efficient and satisfying than relying solely on a fundamentally flawed, corruptible and in many instances antiquated, justice system.
What could possibly go wrong?