Videos showing serious violent crimes gain spread on social media.
Criminal networks use social media and the media to market their violent activities. Thus building up the networks’ brand in the world of crime.
– Spreading this type of material is harmful in many ways. In part it risks glorifying serious criminality but it can also escalate the level of conflict and increase the use of violence between the criminal networks, says Hampus Nygårds, deputy head of the Police Authority’s National Operations Department, in a press message.
The police authority collaborates with social platforms that try to remove content showing serious crimes. However, if the material has started to spread it is difficult to stop it.
– You must also remember that it is an enormous violation of integrity for the victims. And when you spread videos and images of, for example a shooting, you are doing the criminal networks a service, Hampus Nygårds adds.
The police authority also writes that it can be punishable to spread material showing people who are in a vulnerable situation.
The police highlights two wishes: Report videos that depicts serious violence to the social platform on which it occurs. There is also an request for parents to talk with their children about this.