Impact of Online Activism on Public Involvement in Criminal Justice System
Abstract
In this information era the increase in the use of digital technology has transformed the way we interact, socialize, access and consume data. The study investigates the reach and impact of public engagement on the crime and justice system in the contemporary age of online activism and citizen journalism. Applying the mixed-method approach, data is gathered through a thematic review of high-profile criminal cases, interviews of experts and a public survey in Pakistan. The findings highlight that a majority of youth under the age of 36 are using social media, especially Facebook (around 60% of the respondents), as the main source of news about criminal cases. While heavy exposure to criminal cases on digital media (77%) seems to have a nominal influence on public understanding of the judicial system in the country. However, it provides them with a platform for online activism, which often leads to offline civil right movements and campaigns with demands for mob justice and vigilantism. Despite certain limitations, the study provides valuable suggestions and insights for the policy makers and researchers alike in the field.
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