We need to cut the online crime recruitment pipeline.
Tougher laws and more police are solid foundations for a response to Queensland’s youth crime crisis. This week, it has been exposed that the rampant misuse of social media, is exacerbating criminal activity across Queensland.
We heard evidence presented to the Youth Justice Reform Select Committee that social media is playing a role in youth crime.
Young children from vulnerable backgrounds are increasingly drawn to crime via social media where the exploits of their favourite offenders are glamourised on social media platforms such as facebook, Instagram and tik tok. Backed with pumping music and cool graphics, the criminal behaviours of those young offenders currently terrorising Queensland homes are scrolled through repetitively; their activities indistinguishable from fictional stories they might see on TV or at the movies.
The difference is, of course, that we have rating systems designed to protect young children when it comes to big or small screen productions. As a society we understand that young minds are impressionable and what we put in front of them matters. The veritable flood of social media clips glamorising criminal activity made by young offenders, for young offenders, has become as much a way to brag and gain notoriety as it has become a way to recruit the next generation.
When criminals use online platforms to boast about their behaviour, it creates a sick ‘influencer’ style community that perpetuates the cycle. What we are seeing is a situation where criminal behaviour is being glorified, these young offenders become influencers in their circle of friends, and it exacerbates the offending cycle.
Until we cut of the supply of new offenders, this youth crime wave will not ease. That is why I introduced legislation in March this year to tackle the scourge of criminals boasting about their crimes online. Unfortunately, the Federal Government has not pursued the legislation to tackle criminal content online.
It is why this week I am renewing these calls for more action. The evidence this week demonstrates a need for a national approach to breaking the cycle of using online platforms to recruit criminals and my Bill, the ‘Breaking Online Notoriety’ bill will give authorities the tools they need.
Canberra cannot fix a problem created by the state government, but I want to make sure we are doing everything we can to stop more Queenslanders falling victim to these thugs.
There needs to be greater clarity in our laws, a clear definition of what this criminal activity is and we need a sweeping approach across all jurisdictions to stop criminals from boasting about their crimes online.
By tightening the powers of the eSafety Commissioner to explicitly include these crimes within their scope, it will enable the Commission to more easily force the hand of the social media giants and big tech companies, in the interest of victims, to take down this content.
Previously the Minister has been dismissive of my calls. I am saddened, the safety of our community should have us on a unity ticket. Whilst the Federal Labor government refuse to acknowledge the need for action in this space, I welcome the news from the Queensland Police Service to put a team of 25 experts on to the job of cleaning up this material and more recently, seeing 90 offenders punished for boasting about their crimes.
Now, it is time for this Minister and the Federal Government to act. Put in place better laws, that support our Police, protect our community and crack down on criminals.
For far too long our thin blue line has been operating without the necessary legislative support to keep Queensland homes safe. It is the job of every level of government to correct that situation and I will be working to ensure my bill gets the support it needs.
