In a video that is troubling to say the least, three men – who, as is clear from their cell and livestream phrasing – are incarcerated in a correctional facility across the country. Despite security measures, they have a cell phone, an internet connection and access to the TikTok app, where they actively participate in “live battles,” a competitive feature of the platform that offers prizes.

The images we post are not from some platform extravaganza, but from an actual live TikTok, in which prisoners “duel” online with citizens outside the prison – women, influencers, young users – to collect as many digital prizes as possible from viewers.

TikTok has a feature called Live Battle or Match. Two users who are simultaneously live streaming compete against each other for a few minutes (usually 3 to 5), in a real-time connection. Viewers reward the one who “beats” them with emojis, digital gifts and gifts that can be bought with money. The “battles” are accompanied by a timer, music, ranking and the famous audience point, and, upon completion, a winner appears. The more gifts a user gets, the more his or her ranking increases, as well as his or her live revenue.

Viewers buy “coins” from TikTok with a card or PayPal and use them to send digital gifts to streamers. The streamer converts them into diamonds, which are then redeemed for real money.

Example: a “Rose” is worth about 0.01 euros, a “Lion” is worth up to 400 euros, while a “TikTok Universe” can reach 500 euros. Revenues can even reach 1,000 euros per live for influencers with a fanatic audience. TikTok keeps about 50% commission. The rest is paid to the user via bank account, PayPal or other methods.

The shocker is that this is not done from a room in Pagrati or a beach bar in Mykonos, but from a prison in Greece. The three prisoners in the video appear to be in possession of a cell phone and using a 4G connection. They speak casually, smile and ask for a “boost” from viewers to win the match.

The question is obvious: how does this happen? Where is the control? Who benefits from this “performance”?

The process includes illegal possession of mobile phones entered by “delivery boy” type methods, sim cards prepaid and mobile internet activation inside the prison, coordination with people outside the prison who help withdraw the money and live streaming done in an organized manner to generate revenue.

Money raised from “gifts” ends up in the accounts of relatives or associates, on prepaid cards or even in “clean” accounts managed by third parties. Some speak of a new kind of digital crime, where the “content” is incarceration itself and the public’s interest in delinquency becomes a tool for monetization.