Internet vigilantism: co-production of security and compliance in the digital age

Grabosky argued that three general trends in regulatory pluralism had emerged or intensified. These included the weakening, or at least symbolic withdrawal of state regulatory activities; the increase in non-governmental participants and activities in the regulatory process, and the growth of digital technology which allows more citizen involvement in the regulatory process. Internet vigilantism (netilantism) is achieving real results in citizen co-production of policing, security and compliance. This chapter expands upon Grabosky's work on co-production of security and compliance. It discusses how citizens are empowered by digital technology to co-produce security and compliance in both the real world and cyber world, and the nature and challenges of the co-production of security and compliance in the digital age. The chapter defines netilantism, types of netilantism, the characteristics of netilantes and the consequences of netilantism. Technology has facilitated vigilantism.