Cyber-vigilantism should not be normalised
Kirsten Han is a Singaporean blogger, journalist and filmmaker. She is also involved in the We Believe in Second Chances campaign for the abolishment of the death penalty. A social media junkie, she tweets at @kixes. The views expressed are her own.
I doubt anyone shed a tear for Jover Chew when he found himself on the receiving end of a large amount of flak, trolling, and pizzas. He was, after all, a dishonest businessman and an awful person.
But agreeing with the need for Chew to be punished should never be conflated with an endorsement of online vigilantism. This is also a problem that extends far beyond a single case of dodgy dealings in Sim Lim Square.
When someone’s bad behaviour is highlighted on social media platforms, it doesn’t take very long for his or her personal information to be broadcast to all. And I’m not just talking about Facebook profiles, but home addresses and personal telephone numbers. It doesn’t take a genius to deduce that this information isn’t being shared so people can have meaningful conversations – the intent is far more questionable.
Yet another instance of online vigilantism has now surfaced, this time targeted at a Filipino staff member of Tan Tock Seng Hospital who posts on Facebook under the name of Edz Ello. A page – ‘Pinoy in SG f**k off’ – was created on Facebook, later to be replaced with the slightly more polite but just as menacing ‘SGs watching Pinoy’. To ensure that their feelings are made absolutely clear, the Facebook cover image says “F**K OFF” in bold white letters on a black background.
On this page is a photo of Edz Ello, so that people can look out for him in public, as well as a post with his full name, work email and mobile number. Then comes a post with speculation over his residential address. “So what now? Should we do a ambush to lure him out? (sic)” the page administrator asks.
“must ambush around his block..must careful planning..we throw sh** into his house make him come out..then whack him..” one commenter replies.
“Yes … lure him to an open space … and thereafter each of us gives him a Kung Fu kick to his stinking face,” says another.
“Let him taste what he posted and let it served as a warning to the Pinoys community here,” adds one more.
I can go on, but I think you get the picture.
If he really did make those posts on social media, then Edz Ello is a moron. But this Facebook page with its heady mix of cyber-vigilantism, xenophobia and violent trash-talking is taking things too far.
It’s frightening enough to observe, and although I can’t say I’m particularly concerned for Edz Ello’s feelings, I do believe that no one deserves to be so hounded or threatened. There is a line between holding someone accountable for his or her behaviour, and outright harassment and hate speech. And that’s a line that we shouldn’t cross.
Online vigilantism might appeal to our desire for vengeance, to see people we disapprove of punished. It can also seem like a good idea when we feel that the relevant authorities aren’t responding in the way they should. “Online vigilantism comes in when the people we trust to handle the situation becomes incompetent,” troll page SMRT Ltd (Feedback) told Coconuts Singapore.
There’s probably a ring of truth in that. People lost faith in CASE, and so took matters into their own hands when it came to dealing with Jover Chew. Having lost their trust in a government and a system, people are now turning their rage on Edz Ello and, unfairly, on his fellow countrymen.
But none of this solves the problems that lie at the heart of the matter. Turning hatred, anger and violence on to one individual might satisfy some temporary knee-jerk desire, but is ultimately limited in its ability to create lasting change.
It seems to me like all the time, energy and resources expended on doxxing a person, sending hate mail and posting threats could be better directed towards pushing for systemic changes.
One could lobby CASE, or collectively push the state for a system that better respects the needs and livelihoods of workers. One could advocate for a living wage, or anti-discrimination laws that will protect employees from prejudiced employers and unfair termination.
It might not be as instantly gratifying as sending someone an expletive-filled text message, but the chances of truly changing a broken system are much higher this way. And the effects of this change will be felt for far longer than it takes to order an excessive amount of pizzas.
