“A sign that the law is broken” A socio-legal study on an organization of pedophile hunters in Sweden
(2023) SOLM02 20231Department of Sociology of Law
- Abstract
- It has been argued that there are few subjects in society that have the potential to invoke the same emotional outrage and public attention as child sexual offenses and pedophilia (Svensson 2012). In turn of recent events and societal discussions, this argument can be asserted. An organization, called Dumpen, has since 2021 lobbied for children's rights, especially preventing children from being exposed to sexual offenses in Sweden. The organization has been described to be so-called pedophile hunters since they apply covert methods. Which include posing as children on digital platforms, to find and publicly expose individuals accused of seeking children for sexual purposes online.
The actions of Dumpen have elicited discussions... (More) - It has been argued that there are few subjects in society that have the potential to invoke the same emotional outrage and public attention as child sexual offenses and pedophilia (Svensson 2012). In turn of recent events and societal discussions, this argument can be asserted. An organization, called Dumpen, has since 2021 lobbied for children's rights, especially preventing children from being exposed to sexual offenses in Sweden. The organization has been described to be so-called pedophile hunters since they apply covert methods. Which include posing as children on digital platforms, to find and publicly expose individuals accused of seeking children for sexual purposes online.
The actions of Dumpen have elicited discussions concerning the legal status of pedophile hunting in Sweden and the organization has been heavily criticized for their actions, as well as use of methods, in news media. Despite the debate, the organization or the phenomena of pedophile hunting has not been studied in a Swedish context, which inspired this thesis to examine the phenomena of pedophile hunters in Sweden. By examining Dumpen the thesis aims to study the reasoning and understanding of Dumpen’s actions in relation to their perception of law and the legal system. Leading the research questions to investigate: How do Dumpen, based on their self-portrayed experience, justify their actions? And What could the self-portrayed experience of Dumpen reveal of their opinion of the legal system?
To answer the research questions a document analysis was conducted, building on a sample of articles and other materials published by the organization themselves on their website Dumpen.se. The result of the document analysis was analyzed using the theoretical concept of legal consciousness, developed by Patricia Ewick and Susan S. Silbey (1998). The theory was utilized to examine the perception of law portrayed in the material published by Dumpen and enabled a study of how actors think about law and how law influences actions. Findings suggest that Dumpen portrays a floating and flexible perspective of law. Based on this fluctuating perception the organization could be understood as justifying their actions by portraying the legal system as unwilling and incapable to protect children from, potential, sex offenders and pedophiles. Relating to this, the organization could be seen to express a critical and cynical view of the legal system and legal actors. However, the organization can also be understood to believe that the legal system could potentially protect children from sexual offense if legislative changes were made. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9120704
- author
- Nilsson, Emilia LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SOLM02 20231
- year
- 2023
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Dumpen, legal consciousness, pedophile hunters, self-portrayal, Sweden
- language
- English
- id
- 9120704
- date added to LUP
- 2023-06-27 15:32:13
- date last changed
- 2023-06-27 15:32:13
@misc{9120704,
abstract = {{It has been argued that there are few subjects in society that have the potential to invoke the same emotional outrage and public attention as child sexual offenses and pedophilia (Svensson 2012). In turn of recent events and societal discussions, this argument can be asserted. An organization, called Dumpen, has since 2021 lobbied for children's rights, especially preventing children from being exposed to sexual offenses in Sweden. The organization has been described to be so-called pedophile hunters since they apply covert methods. Which include posing as children on digital platforms, to find and publicly expose individuals accused of seeking children for sexual purposes online.
The actions of Dumpen have elicited discussions concerning the legal status of pedophile hunting in Sweden and the organization has been heavily criticized for their actions, as well as use of methods, in news media. Despite the debate, the organization or the phenomena of pedophile hunting has not been studied in a Swedish context, which inspired this thesis to examine the phenomena of pedophile hunters in Sweden. By examining Dumpen the thesis aims to study the reasoning and understanding of Dumpen’s actions in relation to their perception of law and the legal system. Leading the research questions to investigate: How do Dumpen, based on their self-portrayed experience, justify their actions? And What could the self-portrayed experience of Dumpen reveal of their opinion of the legal system?
To answer the research questions a document analysis was conducted, building on a sample of articles and other materials published by the organization themselves on their website Dumpen.se. The result of the document analysis was analyzed using the theoretical concept of legal consciousness, developed by Patricia Ewick and Susan S. Silbey (1998). The theory was utilized to examine the perception of law portrayed in the material published by Dumpen and enabled a study of how actors think about law and how law influences actions. Findings suggest that Dumpen portrays a floating and flexible perspective of law. Based on this fluctuating perception the organization could be understood as justifying their actions by portraying the legal system as unwilling and incapable to protect children from, potential, sex offenders and pedophiles. Relating to this, the organization could be seen to express a critical and cynical view of the legal system and legal actors. However, the organization can also be understood to believe that the legal system could potentially protect children from sexual offense if legislative changes were made.}},
author = {{Nilsson, Emilia}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{“A sign that the law is broken” A socio-legal study on an organization of pedophile hunters in Sweden}},
year = {{2023}},
}