The Challenges of Digilantism for Law Enforcement and Public Order

There has been a significant increase in the rise of digital vigilantism (digilantism) in the past
decade, with more users having access to social media than ever before. The Internet, widely
considered a space for deviance, is now ‘policed’ by citizens, who are quick to mete out justice
against those who offend their norms and value. From paedophile hunting to the naming and
shaming of ‘Neo-Nazis’, the motivations and methodologies of digilantism are diverse and
divisive. But what causes digilantism? Some scholars argue it is driven by the perception of
police as ineffective. Others claim digilantism is a form of autonomous citizenship, or social
justice, used in lieu of another viable option. This thesis should not be considered a defence of
digilantism, but rather a critical examination of the reasons digilantism exists, its potential
benefits, and its impact on law and society, beyond the traditional perspective of other
literature. Relying on a mixed-methodological design of semi-structured interviews and an
Internet-mediated research method of instances of digilantism between 2018-2022, This thesis
investigated digilantism as a unique phenomenon, and established four unique typologies:
informative, investigative, punitive, and disruptive. The findings of this thesis demonstrated
the delicate balance between the challenges digilantism poses to law enforcement, the risks and
benefits of it as a practice, and ultimately under what circumstances digilantism may be
permissible and acceptable