Social media crime videos spreading as post-and-boast laws stall

Videos showing individuals committing crimes are proliferating on social media, notwithstanding the government's efforts to curb such content. Experts contend that the visibility of these videos and associated media commentary instills a sense of prestige among those perpetrating offenses. The Western Australian government is striving to enact legislation that would render posting and boasting about crimes online an illicit act; however, legal mavens have voiced apprehensions.

Videos depicting youthful Western Australians in the far north joyriding in stolen vehicles continue to garner popularity as authorities grapple with the issue of how to address the problem. The notion of "crimfluencer" has emerged in academic and political circles to characterize individuals who exploit social media to accrue notoriety or an audience through the glorification of criminal conduct.

The state's highly anticipated "post-and-boast" laws, aimed at making it unlawful to post about a crime with the intent to glorify, encourage, or incite unlawful activity, remain pending in Parliament. In the meantime, numerous anonymous TikTok accounts are disseminating videos of juveniles driving cars allegedly stolen in Kununurra, a city located 3,060 kilometers northeast of Perth, akin to the scenarios depicted in the videos.

Earlier this month, a video of a police chase involving a stolen vehicle garnered international attention. David Menzel, president of the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley, posited that social media instigates detrimental behavior within the community. Although he conceded that it was not the root cause, Menzel emphasized that nothing positive was emanating from the situation.

Joel McGregor, a criminologist, concurred with Menzel's assessment. He noted that social media platforms have provided young individuals with an unprecedented platform to disseminate their content to a far wider audience than ever before. Media commentary can also contribute to the sense of prestige felt by those involved, thereby complicating efforts to devise a solution.

In some instances, the anonymous Kununurra videos include participants boasting about their appearance on television news programs. However, imposing harsher sentences does not necessarily attenuate the allure of posting criminal activities online for young people, according to McGregor. The focus should instead be on identifying the underlying reasons for such behavior and implementing targeted interventions rather than attempting to police the situation.

The Western Australian government's proposed "post-and-boast" laws intend to amend the Criminal Code to prevent individuals from boasting about their crimes on social media, with penalties including up to three years in prison and fines of up to $12,000. Other jurisdictions have similarly stringent laws, with offenders in New South Wales and Victoria facing an additional two years in prison for posting about their crimes online.

However, these Western Australian laws would be applicable irrespective of whether the individual depicted in the post has been prosecuted or convicted of the offense. The legislation has stalled due to concerns from a parliamentary committee that it would disproportionately impact young individuals who utilize social media more frequently and Indigenous communities in remote regions.

Marilyn Bromberg, a law expert specializing in social media, also expressed reservations. She questioned the effectiveness of imposing additional jail time on those already engaging in criminal activities for posting about it on social media. Instead, Bromberg advocated for allocating resources towards social programs and education to deter individuals from committing crimes in the first place.

In response to the issue, a spokesperson for the Western Australian government cited evidence suggesting that boasting about criminal activity online leads to an increase in crime rates. The government emphasized its commitment to ensuring community safety by implementing the "post-and-boast" legislation, which seeks to curb the glorification of criminal and anti-social behavior online.

The authorities aim to strike a balance between enforcing stringent penalties and addressing the root causes of crime, starting with curbing the dissemination of illegal behavior on social media by those attempting to glorify criminal activities, including "crimfluencers."