DR explains why it is showing violent videos involving children

DR is publishing short clips of videos showing Danish children and young people being beaten, humiliated and filmed, alongside a new documentary series. Kasper Krogh, DR’s head of documentaries and investigations, says the broadcaster weighed the public interest against the risk of harm to those involved.

Why DR is showing the videos

DR says the series examines a socially important issue and aims to show viewers the kind of content children and young people may encounter on social media. The videos are often shared in closed online groups, where parents may not know the full extent of what is happening. Authorities also appear to lack an overall picture of the scale of the problem, DR says.

The series aims to shed light on activity that largely takes place out of public view. Some of the videos have already been published and circulated on social media. But DR says the material is distressing and that victims could be retraumatised by seeing it again.

To limit the harm, DR is showing short clips from only a small part of the material. Everyone shown is anonymised, and the broadcaster has added warnings about violent content to its programmes and articles.

How DR protected those shown

DR says the welfare of the children and young people involved guided the production. The broadcaster tried to identify people in the clips it planned to use so it could contact them, share relevant information and offer them the chance to take part or comment. It was unable to do so.

DR has also anonymised details in the surroundings that it judged could make people recognisable, to reduce the risk of identification.

How the videos were found

DR worked with Darksight Analytics, a consultancy specialising in digital investigations. Over three months, the firm identified 82 Danish videos showing violence or humiliation involving Danish children and young people on social media. It used systematic online research and open-source intelligence methods.

Accessing some groups required creating fake profiles. DR says the profiles did not imitate real people or interact with members of the networks. They were used only to access social media behind registration barriers.

How DR protected interviewees

DR says young people were central to understanding the issue and its effects, but required particular care because several had been directly affected by the events and communities examined in the documentary. Some had previously faced significant pressure and, in a few cases, threats.

All sources were allowed to take part anonymously at their own request, with the aim of protecting them and providing a safe setting to tell their stories. DR also contacted their parents, who approved their participation.

The documentary series, titled “Brutale Børn”, examines how videos showing violence and humiliation are shared online and is available on DRTV.