Malaysian snatch thief caught on Facebook Live – CNET

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You could end up helping to solve crimes simply by tuning in to your friend’s live broadcast.

Jason Cipriani/CNET

Facebook Live came under fire earlier this year because too many violent videos were appearing on the platform. This time, however, it could be used to help fight crime.

A man in Malaysia had his phone snatched by two thieves while he was broadcasting his neighbourhood’s Hari Raya Haji celebrations live on Facebook over the weekend, local publication New Straits Times reported Saturday. Hari Raya Haji refers to the Muslim festival of sacrifice.

Here’s the twist: One of the thieves’ faces was caught on camera while the video continued to stream. The 78-second video, which shows some of the festivities followed by the tussle between the thieves and the victim before the thieves make off with the phone, has gone viral on Facebook.

Facebook has faced backlash over the rising number of videos depicting crimes on the social network. These include a hate crime in Chicago and a Thai man who streamed himself killing his daughter. Previous live videos, however, were intentional, unlike this particular case.