Experts suggest that the rise of “0-100” murderers, from torture videos to murder crimes, may be linked to online and real-life violence.
Criminal justice experts propose a new counter-terrorism-inspired approach to identifying new types of murderers without prior convictions, citing cases like Nicholas Prospero’s planned massacre after killing his family.
Jonathan Hall, reviewer of government terrorist laws, notes a new threat cohort combining online radicalized individuals with those who delve into a dark online world, stating that the internet plays a pivotal role.
A report commissioned after the Southport attack considers whether mass casualty attack plans should be classified as terrorism but opposes broadening the terrorism definition.
Research into the link between online content and real-life violence is a growing field, with concerns raised about increasingly extreme content consumed online.
Experts have observed a rise in ‘0-100’ murderers, bypassing the usual escalation of crime to directly engaging in murder, driven by mixed ideologies and online radicalization.
Recommendations include preventive measures in schools to identify concerning behavior patterns early on.
Despite challenges in establishing a direct link between online and offline violence, there is significant evidence of young people’s exposure to violent content leading to potential public health issues.
Concerns have been raised about online platforms allowing access to violent content, prompting discussions on balancing freedom of speech with child safety.
Experts warn that self-regulation by social media platforms may not be sufficient to address the issue of online violence effectively.
Source: www.theguardian.com