Ep 6. Helpful Votes

Unit 42 is a Belgian crime thriller television series, directed by Indra Siera and Roel Mondelaers. It follows a group of investigators who are tasked to handle cyber investigations and crimes.

In Helpful Votes, the sixth episode of the first season, the team is called to investigate a case of online bullying and harassment, which has escalated into tragic circumstances. The victim, a teenage girl, commits suicide due to the constant bullying she had received online. The team is brought in to investigate the online forum where the harassment took place, and to identify the individuals who were responsible for the harassment.

The investigation proves challenging as the perpetrators are using zapper software, which makes it difficult to track their IP address. The team is also under constant pressure from the victim's family and media, while the investigation becomes more complicated by the minute. Meanwhile, the department is also closing in on the perpetrator of a hacking incident that happened earlier, where they stole personal data from a renowned Belgian chef.

The investigation eventually leads them to a woman who was being blackmailed, and who happened to be the mother of one of the bullies. The woman provided information, which led them to the teenagers responsible for the online bullying. The Unit learned that the teenagers had formed an online gang, and they are responsible for blackmailing and bullying several individuals using fake accounts and stolen identity.

The team quickly arrests the teenagers involved, and the evidence they provided leads to the prosecution and subsequent conviction of the bullies. Throughout the investigation, the Unit develops a strong emotional connection to the victim's family, and the detectives work tirelessly to ensure justice is served.

In the end, Helpful Votes serves as a cautionary tale on the dangers of social media, and how it can lead to tragic consequences if not used responsibly. It highlights how cyberbullying can have severe impacts on individuals' mental health, and emphasizes the need for more awareness on how to use the internet safely and responsibly.

Overall, Unit 42 is well-directed and well-acted, and highlights the complexity of cybercrime investigations. It is a compelling and thrilling series that takes an in-depth look at the investigation and prosecution of cybercrimes while highlighting their real-life consequences. Helpful Votes is one of the standout episodes in the series, as the team's compassion, and dedication to justice shines through in their investigation.