Tasmanian sex offenders named and shamed on social media
ABC
By Tamara Glumac April 27, 2014, 1:37 pm
A Facebook page has nearly 2,000 fans and has recently stepped up its activity, publishing photographs.
But the site is attracting criticism, with concerns it could trigger vigilante activity against paedophiles and increase their risk of re-offending.
Both civil libertarians and the state's sex abuse support service say it is dangerous.
Civil Liberties Australia is worried paedophiles who have already served their time, will be targeted.
"Social media coupled with high emotion is a recipe for disaster and vigilante action," Richard Griggs from Civil Liberties Australia said.
"That can lead to people taking the law into their own hands and we've seen in other places that can mean violence, threatening phone calls and the like," he said.
Liz Little from the Sexual Assault Support Service agrees.
"Basically it isolates people from the mainstream, nobody wants to have a sex offender live in their street, nobody wants to employ a sex offender, these people get increasingly marginalised," she said.
"It's harmful because the American research shows us that it is more likely that a sex offender will re-offend if they are publicly shamed," Ms Little added.
The site was set up in 2012 but has recently ramped up its activity, publishing photos of sex offenders and detailing their crimes and where they live.
The Attorney-General has reported the site to the Police Minister.
"It is not appropriate for citizens to be taking these matters into their own hands in this vigilante-style approach because of the potential as I said for serious harm to come to people," the Attorney-General said.
Tasmania has a community protection register which allows authorities to keep tabs on sex offenders.
But it cannot be accessed by the general public.
The operators of the Facebook site wish to remain anonymous and have declined requests for an interview.
