Mafia Groups Exploit TikTok for Propaganda and Money Laundering, New Research Reveals
Palermo, Italy – italian mafia organizations are increasingly leveraging TikTok to disseminate propaganda, project an image of power, and even launder money, according to a new report by the Magna Grecia Foundation. The study details how groups are utilizing the platform’s algorithm to reach wider audiences and maintain internal cohesion, transforming criminal activity into a form of online self-affirmation.
The report highlights a sophisticated use of social media tactics, including displays of wealth – luxury cars, gold jewelry, and designer clothes - intended to build an image of success and legitimacy.Emojis play a key role in communicating coded messages: chains symbolize detention and family ties,lions represent strength,red hearts signify loyalty,hourglasses denote a wait for revenge,and crowns denote power. Music, especially trap and neomelodic genres often sung in dialect, further reinforces a sense of belonging, with artists like antonio Muscetti and Niko Pandetta becoming prominent figures. Pandetta, a nephew of a mafia boss currently under a strict prison regime, recently gained attention after a live video call with trapper Baby Gang during a music festival in Catania.
Beyond propaganda, TikTok is reportedly being used for financial gain. Researchers found evidence of a “recycling system” where seemingly harmless donations received during live challenges and matches are used to launder drug profits. Funds, often originating from cloned cards, are sent to accounts controlled by frontmen, with the platform retaining approximately half and returning the remainder in cash.
The report also reveals the platform’s role in maintaining family bonds, even while incarcerated.Messages from imprisoned members to thier families demonstrate continued influence and emotional connection,such as a message from Tommaso Lo Presti’s son,known as Pacchione,who wrote,”Dad I miss you,you are always in my heart” in february 2025,prompting supportive responses like “Soon it will be with you my life” and “He will come back stronger than before.”
