Digital Vigilantism in Sexual Violence Cases: Implications for Rule of Law and State Legitimacy

Abstract

The rise of digital technologies has significantly transformed the dynamics of sexual violence cases, particularly through the emergence of digital vigilantism as a form of public-driven justice. This study aims to analyze how digital vigilantism influences the rule of law and state legitimacy. Employing a normative juridical approach with a qualitative design, this research utilizes secondary data derived from scholarly literature, legal documents, and comparative case studies across multiple jurisdictions. Data were collected through a systematic literature review and analyzed using doctrinal and thematic analysis to identify patterns, tensions, and implications of digital vigilantism practices. The findings reveal that digital vigilantism functions as a double-edged phenomenon. On one hand, it accelerates accountability, amplifies victims’ voices, and pressures law enforcement to act more responsively. On the other hand, it undermines fundamental legal principles such as due process, presumption of innocence, and legal certainty, while fostering parallel systems of “trial by social media.” Furthermore, the widespread reliance on digital vigilantism reflects a broader crisis of trust in formal legal institutions, thereby weakening state legitimacy. In conclusion, digital vigilantism both challenges and reinforces the authority of the state. Without balanced regulatory frameworks and institutional reforms, its expansion risks eroding the rule of law while simultaneously emerging as a response to institutional deficiencies in addressing sexual violence