Buzz
The Internet has seen its fair share of malevolent use, from scammers out to steal your money, to online bullying, and even venturing into the darker, hidden regions of the web. Unfortunately, the darker side of the Internet often mirrors the worst tendencies in humanity itself.
However, in rare cases, the Internet has also been a force for good, as proven by many individuals who have solved online crimes. These amateur sleuths succeeded where professional law enforcement agencies faltered, whether due to inefficiency or lacking the vast, crowdsourced resources that only the Internet can provide.
10. Hit-and-Run Incidents
Before the rise of the Internet, tracking down a hit-and-run driver was a notoriously tough challenge, as these cases often leave minimal evidence behind. On the rare chance that a victim survives, any clues left behind may still not be enough to identify the perpetrator—unless they somehow leave something critical behind, like their ID or DNA at the scene.
We’re not suggesting that the Internet has dramatically increased conviction rates in hit-and-run cases, but we do know of at least one instance where the online community played a key role in apprehending a culprit. This took place in Washington, where a cyclist was struck and killed in a collision, but police had no leads on the responsible party. The scene photo was eventually shared on Reddit, asking the public for help in identifying vehicle parts.
While the initial post may have been driven by curiosity, things escalated when a former state car inspector was able to precisely identify the vehicle’s make and model. Unfortunately for the driver, very few people in the area owned a 1980s Chevrolet Silverado at the time, leading to his arrest and eventual conviction.
9. Unsteady Footage
Extra-judicial killings by police aren’t new in America, but with modern technology—especially cameras—it’s harder for them to get away with it. Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s stopped happening, but now those responsible have to ensure no one is around to witness or record their actions.
This was a lesson Michael Slager, a South Carolina police officer, learned the hard way after he shot and killed an unarmed black man, Walter Scott. While he wasn’t immediately charged, shaky and inconclusive footage shot by witnesses at the scene made it difficult to secure a conviction. That was until a Canadian student online took it upon himself to stabilize the video footage.
At the time, Daniel Voshart was studying cinematography with a focus on image stabilization, and he felt compelled to act after witnessing what seemed to be a racially-motivated crime. He worked on stabilizing the video and shared it as a GIF on Reddit, which not only became crucial evidence but also galvanized the online community to rally behind the victim.
8. Coerced Into Suicide
When 18-year-old Nadia Kajouji tragically ended her life by jumping off a bridge into Ottawa's Rideau River, her friends and family were heartbroken. She had been grappling with personal struggles, including a previous miscarriage and academic pressures. (If you or anyone you know is facing similar hardships, please reach out to someone for support.)
However, as the details came to light, it was revealed that Nadia hadn’t made this choice entirely on her own. Weeks before her death, she had been in contact with a person named Cami D (real name Melchert-Dinkel) on an online forum, who manipulated her into taking the final step. His identity was eventually uncovered by Celia Bay, an online counselor, who also discovered that he had been convincing several others to commit suicide over the years. In total, he had persuaded five or six people, leading to charges against him for attempted assisted suicide and assisted suicide, thanks to Celia’s efforts.
7. Sexual Assault
The debate over sexual assault on college campuses and the culture surrounding athletes has been ongoing for some time, but the Steubenville High School case marked one of the earliest instances of such a crime happening in the age of social media. We’ll spare you the disturbing details, but in brief, a minor was raped by several of her peers in August 2012. The assault took place over the course of a night across multiple locations, both on and off campus.
While the main culprits were ultimately convicted, it’s important to remember the role the Internet played in those convictions. Due to the local influence of the accused, authorities were initially hesitant to take the case seriously. That was, until Anonymous—a controversial collective of online hacker vigilantes—uploaded a large amount of evidence. Not only did this force law enforcement to revisit the case, but it also thrust the issue into the national spotlight. The evidence included confessions from the accused, photos, videos from the night, and other damning materials.
6. Stolen Laptop
Having your laptop or phone stolen is always a devastating experience. It’s not just about the financial cost—though gadgets can be pricey—but the loss of personal data that’s often irreplaceable. That’s probably what Sean Power was thinking when his MacBook Pro, phone, and important documents were stolen.
5. Online Vigilantes Accelerate Minor Rape Case Progress
The tragic story of 17-year-old Rehtaeh Parsons from Canada shocked the world. While the reasons behind her suicide remain debated, many attribute it to the online spread of her images and the cyberbullying she endured. Although similar tragedies have occurred before, the involvement of social media and the emerging wave of online harassment at the time gave this case a particularly heartbreaking twist.
Initially, the authorities had closed the case, citing a lack of evidence connecting the gang rape to her suicide, despite clear photographic proof. However, after pressure mounted from online activists, especially hackers associated with Anonymous, the case was reopened. While vigilantism is generally harmful, especially when it borders on mob justice, in this case, the hackers played a crucial role in preventing the case from fading away into obscurity.
4. Omni-Potent
Those who have ventured into the deepest, darkest corners of the Internet (purely for research purposes, of course) can attest to the horrifying content lurking there. We're not just talking about illegal substances or strange fetishes, but truly disturbing material such as snuff films, child exploitation, and hired assassins. It's a nightmare to regulate, as many of these activities are hidden behind the dark web and intricate security measures.
Brad William, a hacker with a personal vendetta, decided to take action. Operating under the alias 'Omni-Potent,' he created a virus that infected over 3,000 computers belonging to suspected child predators. Although much of the evidence he uncovered was damning, the authorities couldn't act on it, as it was obtained illegally and wasn't admissible in court.
Despite the illegality of his methods, Brad William did contribute positively. His work ultimately led to a number of convictions and helped expose many suspected child predators.
3. Murder
Murder, unfortunately, has been part of human existence since time immemorial, and no matter how hard we try to prevent it, it continues. Despite our advanced technology, solving every murder remains a difficult task, as crucial evidence can often be elusive. Interestingly, some of the most bizarre and unexpected cases are cracked by amateurs, including online detectives.
A prime example of this is the murder of Abraham Shakespeare, a homeless man from Florida. Initially, the police had no leads, but members of the online crime-solving community Websleuths pointed to a woman to whom Shakespeare had transferred all his lottery winnings. The case took an even stranger turn when the woman herself entered the forum and eventually admitted to the crime. The moderators ensured her confession remained unedited, which was enough for law enforcement to secure a conviction.
2. Hate Crime
In today’s divided society, social media more frequently makes headlines for its role in exacerbating hate crimes rather than preventing them. In many instances, identifying the perpetrators proves difficult, as many of these incidents occur in isolated areas at night—especially when the assailants are cautious.
1. Grateful Doe
Those familiar with Greensville County in Virginia have likely heard the tale of Grateful Doe. This name was given to an unidentified crash victim who died in a car accident that also claimed the life of another. For two decades, his identity remained a mystery, with the only clues being a tattoo on his arm, two Grateful Dead concert tickets, and a note directed to a person named Jason.
The case took a turn when Grateful Dead enthusiasts created an online page dedicated to uncovering the identity of the mysterious victim. This page brought significant attention to the previously closed case. Eventually, a photograph posted on the site led a woman to contact the page’s administrator. It was revealed that the victim was her son, Jason Callahan, who had been missing at the time. The identity was later confirmed through DNA testing, dispelling the initial assumption that he had simply run away from home.
