Criminals who “post and boast” about their offences on social media could face additional jail time under new legislation being presented to the Victorian state parliament.
Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said the proposed law specifically targets individuals who share content online bragging about involvement in serious crimes such as burglary, robbery, car theft, carjackings, home invasions, affray, and violent disorder.
If passed, offenders could face up to two years’ imprisonment on top of existing penalties for the original crime.
Kilkenny said the move is in response to a disturbing rise in young people turning crime into online content to gain attention and inspire copycat behaviour.
“We’re seeing a troubling trend, especially among youth, who are glorifying their criminal acts on social media. This retraumatises victims and spreads fear in communities,” she said.
The legislation seeks to make posting about crimes online a standalone offence rather than just an aggravating factor in sentencing.
Victoria Police will also be granted authority to issue search warrants to investigate and track online criminal content.
Police Minister Anthony Carbines urged the public to report such posts to Crime Stoppers, noting that action often depends on public tip-offs.
The new law will not apply to third parties such as witnesses or journalists who are not involved in the crime.
The proposal is expected to receive backing from the opposition, which has long pushed for stricter measures to combat crime.
