Communication Strategies of Digital Vigilantes: in Search of Justice

Volkova, Anna; Lukyanova, Galina V.

doi:10.1109/comsds49898.2020.9101239

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…Vigilantism is seen as a return to the forcible maintenance of local order, or even as a way for individual groups to fight for their share of rent and patronage resources. The negative assessments of a number of foreign researchers come from both the excessive criminal connotation of the vigilantes' activities, their disregard for procedural issues of maintaining law and order, the lack of independence in developing both an agenda and objects of actions, and a selfish interest in gaining fame and expanding the possibility of influence in the digital environment [25], which gives grounds for fear of the takeover of civil society by digital vigilantes and their destruction of the traditional value paradigm. In addition, structured, organized or spontaneous groups of "civil fighters" turn out to be a significant force and can be used in political struggle both online and offline.…”

Section: Formation Of Digital Vigilantism: Dark Side Of Digital Trans...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Communities, discursive practices and behavioral patterns of digital vigilantism in Russia: Politico-axiological approach

Кулакова

Volkova

2022

Vestnik SPbSU. Philosophy and Conflict Studies

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This article studies vigilantism, a specific form of civic activity whose history can be traced back to the nineteenth century and which in the era of digitalization has acquired new characteristics. Digital vigilantism, as a well-established social phenomenon not only in world practice, but also in Russia, needs an analysis of its structure, goals, motivations, and interests and values of members of various communities to determine trends and changes in civil society in the context of digital transformations. Digital vigilantes seeking to regulate ideas about the “normality” of behavior, using interactions in social networks that are aggressive and even bordering on extremist, claim to be a significant actor for public policy. Legitimizing an alternative system for identifying violators, criminals, victims and punishments (by increasing the number of likes), they not only seek to co-opt the initiative to form public values, but often ignore and replace governmental structures. At the same time, they increasingly turn out to be not nameless avengers, but rather individuals seeking to declare themselves and achieve through creating the conflict not only their own goals, but also a certain popularity or “network power”, which is well monetized. The authors analyze behavioral patterns of the most famous communities — “Lev Protiv” (Lion Against), “StopHam” (StopBoor), “Hrushi protiv” (Piggies Against), and “AntiDealer” — and their activities in the VKontakte social network and on YouTube to typologize Russian vigilantism. The possibility of interaction with such movements (both online and offline formats) is not excluded for the system of public power, if a framework (procedures, rules) can be established for them that determines their auxiliary functions (notification, informing, propaganda). The proliferation of vigilante movements and their demonstration of direct violence is a significant indicator of the inefficiency of the public administration system, a decrease in the level of legitimacy and support for its institutions, and indicates an increased risk of loss of state governability.

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Section: Formation Of Digital Vigilantism: Dark Side Of Digital Trans...mentioning

confidence: 99%