Published: Less than 20 min ago
The own network is praised and murdered enemies are mocked.
Criminologist Amir Rostami thinks that Tiktok should take a greater responsibility in cleaning up the violence.
– The gang does this to get their message out and build their brand.
In February 2022, a 23-year-old man was shot to death in Södertälje. About ten shots were fired at the car in which he was sitting, and the murder was the starting point for a deadly phalanx battle within the Södertälje network.
Months later, a film from the 23-year-old’s funeral flourished on Tiktok and received thousands of views. The film had been edited with an image and sound effect that mocked the death victim.
The video would also appear in the police’s preliminary investigation regarding an extortion attempt in which people from the Saltskog and Ronna phalanxes were involved.
On Tiktok there are videos that spread the network’s capital of violence and which are later taken up in the police investigation.
– You can compare it to a company, you want to build your brand, send out your message to your sympathizers, members, but also people around you, says criminologist Amir Rostami.
Mocked rival phalanx
In the police’s preliminary investigation, it appears that the victim is connected to the so-called Ronnaphalangen in the Södertälje network, which during 2022 was in conflict with the Saltskogsphalangen.
“The purpose of the film seems to be to mock the Ronna Phalange and the deceased,” says the investigation into the film regarding the shot dead 23-year-old.
For several criminal networks, it is important to mock and show off their violent capital on Tiktok.
– They want to offend the opponent and mock the victim. It’s about strengthening one’s own brand and destroying the other party’s, he says.
Would you say this leads to increased crime?
– It increases the pressure for the opponent to take revenge. But it is always difficult to say what leads to increased crime. But it leads to increased attractiveness. To show off one’s power and thereby gain greater influence, says Amir Rostami.
Celebrated TikTok account
In the current case, where the verdict has not yet been announced, three perpetrators allegedly pressured a man to pay them money.
When the charges were brought, a Tiktok account appeared as part of the police’s preliminary investigation.
Among other things, a member of the Södertälje network, who was charged with attempted blackmail, had forwarded the videos in a chat conversation followed by the text:
“Fat editing or what do you think” and sent a link to the Tiktok account which, among other things, showed a fatal shooting in the district of Ronna from last year.
In the film, the account administrator had written “Your day will come” followed by several hashtags, including Salt Forest. The second film thus mocked a death victim.
“Should take down the movies”
But with the new development also comes a responsibility, says Amir Rostami, who wants to see a change.
– This is a communication strategy. I would like us to deal with it the way we deal with the propaganda of violent extremism like IS. This is propaganda from criminal organizations with a similar purpose.
He would like to see Tiktok shut down some accounts.
– I think so. The media space gives these people and the gangs increased room for action, it gives them resources, that’s why they engage in it and that’s exactly why we need to limit it. By limiting their communication channels, we limit their marketing, says Amir Rostami.
Aftonbladet has searched Tiktok and asked how they view the criminologist’s criticism. Both clips mentioned in this article still remain on the platform.
“We updated ours Community Guidelines recently to clarify what applies, but also how the guidelines are applied. These community guidelines apply to everything and everyone on Tiktok. We also contact the authorities when deemed appropriate.”
Furthermore, the company writes that “a very large part of the content and accounts that violate the guidelines are removed quickly and often before they spread.