Thoughtlessly forwarding videos on WhatsApp or Facebook can have criminal consequences. Police seize students' cell phones and give prevention tips!
When, out of curiosity and thoughtlessness, they forwarded videos of killings, accidents, self-harm as well as videos with possible child pornography and right-wing extremist content to friends and acquaintances via WhatsApp groups on the messaging service “WhatsApp”, eight students between the ages of 13 and 18 from the south thought Rhein-Neckar-Kreis is not aware that they may be violating criminal law regulations and thus end up in the wake of criminal investigations.
In this regard, investigators from the Heidelberg Criminal Investigation Department confiscated everyone's cell phones on Friday morning. Their evaluations and possible further investigative steps resulting from them are still pending.
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The example above shows that the thoughtlessness or curiosity described on social media or messengers such as WhatsApp can lead to police investigations.
The aim of the Mannheim Police Headquarters is to sensitize young people and young adults to refrain from sending or thoughtlessly forwarding “questioning” messages or videos on WhatsApp. Such actions can no longer be viewed as trivial offenses if simply saving porn or violent videos can give rise to suspicion of a crime.
Media competence required!
Guardians also play a special role here, as they should develop media skills together with their children. The more knowledge you and your child have about possible dangers on the Internet, the better you can avoid them. If parents and children are sensitized and educated online, they can also evaluate content more critically.
We therefore recommend that you do not save, send or otherwise publish violent, extremist or sexist photos or videos that come via WhatsApp, for example. The motto must always be: “Think first, then click.” The internet doesn’t forget anything. Not even private recordings that were carelessly disclosed in the past and that reappear on the web years later. Such recordings can be embarrassing, and not just in private settings.
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What to do if you discover or receive criminal content online:
- Securing evidence of possible criminal content on the Internet or messenger services; copy the URL or take screenshots of the messages and their origin; do not forward any content yourself
- If the sender of criminal content is known, inform him about the possible criminal possession and forwarding.
- If you have vague suspicions, please contact www.jugendschutz.net or www.internet-beschwerdestelle.de
- Report to the police
Specially trained officers at all police stations in the Mannheim Police Headquarters area inform students in grades 5-7 about the dangers on the Internet and how to use social media correctly as part of the compulsory school program “Digital Media”.
To receive further information about safe online serving, using streaming services or on the subject of “criminal content on WhatsApp etc., please contact the Mannheim Police Headquarters, Prevention Department, Tel.: 0621/174-1201 or anyone Police station in contact.
Information is also available online at: www.polizei-beratung.de www.polizeifuerdich.de www.klicksafe.de www.handyektor.de. We also recommend the police’s “ Civilian Heroes ” project, in which Mimikama provides support.
Article image: Shutterstock / By Nadir Keklik
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Notes:
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