3.1 Vigilantism: Scholars have for years had different opinions on the definition of vigilantism. “It also makes them feel good about themselves, that they are the law-abiding ones.”But Dr Jiow said there are many examples of how vigilantes can end up exposing the wrong person, especially as many people leave a large digital footprint in this day and age.“As social media has become a large part of many of our lives, the images, videos, comments and captions that we post form our digital footprint,” he said. This can include turning off geo-tagging or location settings, setting accounts to private and avoid oversharing information.“Not only does it matter in this particular example of being wrongly identified, which may feel far-fetched to many, it has other far-reaching consequences,” he continued, highlighting exploitation by cybercriminals as one example.In perhaps the most notable case of mistaken identity in recent times, vigilantes wrongly identified the head of a tech company as a woman who was repeatedly caught on video not wearing a mask in public, and who declared herself “sovereign” in one clip that went viral.The Singaporean woman Paramjeet Kaur, 41, has been charged in court for offences including refusing to wear a mask and being a public nuisance.The tech company in a statement thanked everyone for “promptly redacting the misinformation once they uncovered the truth”, and quoted its chief executive as saying she was grateful for the well-wishers who reached out and stood up for her.For those who were mistakenly identified, Dr Tan it might not be so easy for them to convince others, especially acquaintances, that they were not the culprits.Even for those who were correctly identified, “the public shaming may far outweigh the S$300 fine they have to pay if convicted”, he added.Dr Jiow said the way online vigilantes behave encourages the naming and shaming of offenders. As of publication, majority said they supported the censorship option.The approach is different on SG Dirty Fella, where one admin told CNA that potentially racist or xenophobic comments are left untouched for authorities to take action.“Everyone is responsible for their comments,” said the 30-year-old admin, who only wanted to be known as Ganesan. Its Latin root is vigil, for "awake" or "observant." in policing, depending on the reports of citizens to find criminal suspects, rather than working indepenently. “This pandemic is currently affecting everyone financially and in their daily lives.”NTU's Assoc Prof Tandoc acknowledged that some of these posts are well-meaning, with a few assisting authorities in investigations.After a Facebook user posted photos of crowds gathering outside food and beverage outlets along Robertson Quay, police were able to trace several individuals involved. Some argue that it should be considered a social movement whereas others argue that it is rather a sort of social reaction. By clicking subscribe, I agree to receive news updates and promotional material from Mediacorp and Mediacorp's partners.
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“While we may not think much about it, even if our accounts are private, this information can still become public if someone screenshots your posts or comments. This service is not intended for persons residing in the EU. However, supporters of vigilantism said it acts as a deterrence for would-be offenders, whose actions could harm public health and prolong stifling COVID-19 restrictions. In cases of mistaken identity, this can be the result of pure coincidence and sheer bad luck.”Dr Jiow, who is also a member of the Media Literacy Council, said this makes it important for people to better manage their digital footprint. ... it is important to know the definition of police. vigilantism: definition. meREWARDS lets you get coupon deals, and earn cashback when you complete surveys, dine, travel and shop with our partners SINGAPORE: What would you do if you saw someone not wearing a mask in public?Mind your own business, or perhaps advise the person to wear a mask because it is now required by law and helps reduce the spread of COVID-19?Another option might be to report the infringement to the authorities. By clicking subscribe, I agree to receive news updates and promotional material from Mediacorp and Mediacorp's partners. | Subscribe now in By continuing to use the site you are agreeing to our Seven people were eventually charged for the offence.However, Assoc Prof Tandoc also pointed to several cases where online vigilantes got things wrong.“Social media platforms have not only made it easier for just anyone to access a potentially mass audience, but to some extent this access also seemingly comes with no accountability,” he added.In one incident in March, a picture posted on social media showed a couple transporting cartons of eggs in public, with commentators accusing them of panic buying – a hot topic leading up to the circuit breaker.But a subsequent post by a netizen who claimed to know the couple's child said the couple were school canteen vendors who needed the eggs for their business, and that they were unable to get their usual supply due to actual hoarders.For instance, he said a grandmother could be eating at a void deck because her daughter-in-law had forced her out of the house, or an elderly man walking around with his mask down might have momentarily removed it because he had difficulty breathing.“These may not be valid reasons for breaking laws, but they sure are grounds that ought to spare someone from being subject to unbridled online vitriol,” he wrote.So, what should people do if they see potential infringements?NUS’ Dr Tan said if their intent is to correct the action, rather than ensure the person gets due punishment, they should try approaching and gently reminding him to do the right thing. On Mar 27, the page’s admin created a group in the same name. Vigilantes have also been known as "slickers," "stranglers," "mobs," and "committees of safety." literally, "watchmen". action by a person who is alert and on guard, cautious, ... reactive: definition. This places vigilantism
Ultimately, the experts agreed that vigilantes would be better off reporting potential infringements directly to the authorities.Earlier this month, the Government amended the COVID-19 regulations to ensure they remain in force indefinitely, and beyond Singapore’s exit of the “circuit breaker”.