KUALA LUMPUR: The growing wave of hostility towards illegal immigrants online, particularly rhetoric directed at Rohingya refugees and undocumented migrants, risks normalising vigilantism and potentially violence if left unchecked.

Senior Criminologist Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy warned that recent social media posts calling on members of the public to “round up” undocumented foreigners, including Rohingya migrants, should be viewed with serious concern as they reflect a dangerous process whereby hostility, prejudice and exclusion become normalised within public discourse.

He told the New Straits Times that repeated exposure to messages portraying illegal immigrants or Rohingya communities as a threat to society could gradually lead some individuals to perceive discriminatory behaviour and even violence as justified responses.

Drawing on differential association theory, which suggests that criminal or deviant behaviour is learned through interactions with others and exposure to environments that normalise such actions, he said attitudes that justify unlawful conduct can develop through social influence and repeated exposure to narratives that legitimise wrongdoing.

“When narratives that justify hostility become widespread, they can influence individuals to view actions that would otherwise be considered unacceptable as reasonable or necessary,” he said.

The criminologist also expressed concern over individuals posting videos online showing themselves confronting, questioning or allegedly detaining undocumented migrants while appearing to assume the role of enforcement officers.

“Immigration enforcement is the responsibility of authorised government agencies. When members of the public begin taking enforcement matters into their own hands, society risks normalising vigilantism.

What may initially be framed as community action can quickly escalate into unlawful conduct involving intimidation, harassment, wrongful confinement, assault or impersonation of public officials,” he said.

Sundramoorthy said such behaviour undermines the rule of law, weakens public confidence in legitimate institutions and encourages others to bypass established legal processes.

He also described the proliferation of dehumanising language directed at Rohingya refugees and undocumented migrants as particularly alarming, citing comments suggesting Rohingya women should be treated as slaves and calls for members of the public to target Rohingya communities.

“Criminological and historical evidence demonstrates that dehumanisation often serves as a precursor to violence. By stripping individuals of their dignity and humanity, such rhetoric reduces empathy and weakens the moral restraints that ordinarily prevent people from causing harm to others,” he said.

Sundramoorthy noted that similar patterns of xenophobia and moral panic have been observed globally, where migrants, refugees and minority groups were blamed for crime, economic hardship and social problems, often fuelled by misinformation, rumours and exaggerated claims amplified through social media.

While acknowledging that concerns over illegal immigration are legitimate public policy issues, he stressed that they must be addressed through lawful, evidence-based discussions rather than collective blame.

“Legitimate concerns about policy should never be used to justify hostility towards entire communities, whether Rohingya refugees or other migrant groups. Conflating individual misconduct with collective guilt risks fuelling racism, discrimination and social division,” he said.

He warned that sustained online hatred could eventually translate into real-world violence, noting that research on radicalisation has shown repeated exposure to hateful narratives can create conditions conducive to both lone-actor attacks and collective violence.

This article first appeared on NST.