Cases of Cybervigilantism in Asia
Example 1: Citizens search for photos of an official wearing expensive designer items that indicate an income from bribery.
Yang Dacai, a Chinese official, is photographed wearing various expensive watches, after he had been photographed smiling at the site of a bus crash. Bloggers noticed that he should not have been able to afford his watches from his salary. China’s state-run media also began criticizing Yang’s watch collection after an Internet outcry. In an interview, Yang denied buying them with corrupt money and apologized for smiling at the crash site. However, netizens found more photographs of him with designer belts and glasses. He was later brought under investigation and has been sentenced to fourteen years in jail for corruption.
Example 2: Citizens identify woman in a hit and run incident
In October 2016, citizens identified a female driver who ran over a dog but did not stop to offer any assistance. When approached by eyewitnesses to help the injured canine, she cursed at them before driving off. The incident sparked outrage online, and Singaporean netizens shared screenshots of the driver’s car, and subsequently uncovered the perpetrator’s personal information.
3. For additional case studies and examples, see:
Cheong, P. H., & Gong, J. (2010). Cyber Vigilantism, Transmedia Collective Intelligence, and Civic Participation. Chinese Journal of Communication, 3(4), 471-487.
Gao, L., & Stanyer, J. (2014). Hunting Corrupt Officials Online: The Human Flesh Search Engine and the Search for Justice in China. Information, Communication & Society, 17(7), 814-829.
