Internet sleuthing comes into its own

‘DaddyOFive’ outrage shows the public taking active role over perceived wrongdoing

A Frederick County couple’s YouTube videos of what they called “pranks” on their children have sparked a viral outrage in recent weeks, leading people from across the globe to notify law enforcement and media outlets and launch investigations of their own of what they saw as abuse.

Heather and Michael Martin of Ijamsville had filmed nearly 300 videos on their “DaddyOFive” YouTube channel, many of which showed them berating and yelling at their children, breaking their toys and instructing the kids to hit each other, with the adults often laughing as their children cried.

But while local law enforcement agencies worked to determine where the videos were filmed and whether they contain abuse or criminal activity, many members of the online community had already decided — and were hard at work seeking justice. YouTubers, bloggers and everyday spectators began collecting information on the Martins and broadcasting their findings. DaddyOFive founders issued a public apology on YouTube and said they are in counseling. A police investigation into their treatment of children is pending.

The uproar is one of several local cases in recent months in which an online community has investigated and drawn exposure to perceived wrongdoing. Local law enforcement agencies report receiving more tips through interactive means in recent years.

More broadly, sites and communities like Websleuths and the Reddit channel “Reddit Bureau of Investigations,” which includes over 40,000 users, are dedicated to such web-based sleuthing. Experts point to trends in behavior online and among internet communities to explain the phenomenon.

On April 28, Rose Hall, 31, the biological