KTimes : “Vigilante YouTuber’s Doxxing Disaster: Misidentified Victims”

Seen is an image captured from a YouTube channel that revealed the personal information of a man presumed to be a perpetrator in the Miryang gang rape case. Captured from YouTube

By KTimes

A YouTuber has taken it upon themselves to expose the identities of individuals involved in a sexual assault case dating back 20 years in Miryang City, South Korea. The move has triggered a wave of demands from viewers seeking updates on other criminals, with some going as far as offering financial backing to encourage further revelations.

While many commend these vigilante actions as a means of achieving social justice, there are significant ethical and legal concerns at play. The risks of mistaken identity and secondary victimization loom large over such exposé cases.

Despite the potential pitfalls, the allure of monetary gains through donations far outweighs the fear of legal repercussions for privacy violations, indicating that this trend is likely to persist.

The YouTube channel “nalock9” has been inundated with comments and requests for the exposure of various criminals ever since it began shedding light on the Miryang middle school gang rape case on June 1.

Each video attracts thousands of comments, with viewers urging the YouTuber to unmask individuals involved in other infamous cases. Some commenters even provide personal details about suspected perpetrators, including their real names and current professions.

Financial incentives further drive these activities. Through YouTube’s Super Thanks feature, supporters can donate amounts ranging from 2,000 won ($1.50) to 500,000 won, essentially commissioning the YouTuber to investigate and expose criminals. This financial support stems from a lack of faith in the judicial system, with many believing that lenient punishments necessitate alternative forms of justice.

Comments on a video revealing the personal information of perpetrators in the Miryang gang rape case / Captured from YouTube

Model Offers Lucrative Financial Rewards

Lee Yoon-ho, a professor of police studies at Cyber University of Korea, remarked, “There is widespread distrust in the judicial system due to perceived leniency in sentencing. This distrust fuels support for YouTubers engaged in doxxing, prompting others to think, ‘If they can do it, why can’t I?’ and encouraging financial contributions.”

The financial rewards for these YouTubers are substantial. “nalock9” gained approximately 300,000 subscribers in one week, and according to Nox Influencer, a platform that estimates YouTuber earnings, their monthly revenue could reach 17.6 million won, with an additional 6.4 million won from ad revenue.

Given that fines for privacy violations under the related laws are capped at 50 million won, and many defamation cases result in fines rather than imprisonment, the financial benefits significantly outweigh the risks.

However, this practice of doxxing carries serious consequences. The Korean Sexual Violence Relief Center, a support organization for the victims of the Miryang case, has refuted claims that the YouTuber obtained consent from the victims’ families to carry out these acts of exposing others.

On June 5, the organization stated, “The YouTuber’s assertion that they obtained consent from the victim’s family is false.”

Misidentifying individuals as perpetrators can have devastating repercussions. “nalock9” had to intervene to stop attacks on a nail salon owner who was mistakenly identified as the girlfriend of one of the perpetrators.

The Korean Sexual Violence Relief Center (KSVRC) posts a statement of refutation regarding a YouTuber who claimed to have received consent from the families of victims in the infamous Miryang middle school gang rapes that occurred in 2004 to reveal information, on June 5 via social media

Prolonging Victims’ Trauma

The Korean Sexual Violence Relief Center has also demanded the removal of videos, stating, “We did not consent to the disclosure of all perpetrators.” Despite this, the YouTuber continues to upload videos.

While these disclosures may offer immediate satisfaction, they could ultimately undermine trust in the legal system.

Attorney Park Joon-young cautioned, “If this type of exposure becomes widespread, anyone could have their personal information unjustly revealed and be filmed, with the footage widely circulated. Revisiting a 20-year-old case and seeking apologies from perpetrators could prolong the victims’ trauma and fuel ongoing resentment and anger.”

In the long term, the focus should shift from public humiliation to healing and rehabilitation. “Instead of perpetuating anger and hostility, efforts should be made to support the victims’ recovery and facilitate meaningful changes in the perpetrators,” Park suggested.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times.