Los Angeles, California – Online sleuths sprung into action in the aftermath of violence erupting at UCLA this week. They diligently scoured videos of masked rioters attacking a pro-Palestinian student encampment near the campus quad, meticulously studying each frame in search of exposed faces. By posting these faces on social media platforms like X and Instagram, they rallied the internet community to help identify the alleged perpetrators.
The collective effort spanned across the nation and worldwide, resulting in the online exposure of the perpetrators’ names and even information such as their places of employment. The tactic raised concerns among law enforcement officials, with some experts attributing it to the prevailing distrust in the justice system to address such issues effectively.
Brian Levin, founding director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino, highlighted the growing trend of individuals taking matters into their own hands due to perceived shortcomings in the justice system. He warned of the risks involved in such doxing activities, citing cases where innocent individuals were wrongly identified.
Doxing, the act of posting someone’s personal information online, has gained prominence as a strategy following events like the Unite the Right march in Charlottesville in 2017 and the storming of the U.S. Capitol in 2021. The recent violence at UCLA prompted immediate efforts by pro-Palestinian groups to identify the individuals involved in the attack on their encampment.
Students at the encampment expressed a sense of urgency in identifying the perpetrators, citing a lack of confidence in campus authorities to address the situation adequately. While some online identifications led to public backlash and private profile adjustments, there were also cases of mistaken identities prompting apologies.
In the midst of circulating addresses and phone numbers of counterprotesters, the theories surrounding the attack at UCLA varied widely. While some believed the perpetrators were paid agitators, others viewed it as a crime of opportunity. The limited response from law enforcement left many questioning the accountability and intentions behind the violence.
The incident sparked heated discussions and calls for thorough investigations and legal actions from organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). The search for accountability and justice extended beyond online identifications to potential legal repercussions for those responsible for the violent attacks.