Social Media Platforms as Enablers of Organized Crime: A Socio-Legal Analysis of Cyber Gangs and Trafficking Networks

Abstract

Social media plays a significant role in the evolution of organized crime. The present analysis examines the ways in which cyber gangs and trafficking networks utilize these platforms to recruit members, coordinate activities, launder money, and evade detection. The analysis applies social network, routine activity, and regulatory theories to explore encrypted messaging, algorithmic amplification, and transnational organizational structures. Qualitative case studies from Latin America and Southeast Asia reveal trends in encrypted group operations, influencer-style recruitment, and fragmented regulation. The findings highlight deficiencies in platform governance and illustrate varying state responses, suggesting the need for platform liability, enhanced cross-border enforcement, and integrated socio-legal strategies to inform criminological policy on digital organized crime.