Ireland Instagram account at centre of student blackmail claim disabled by Meta, High Court told
A third-level student in County Dublin says an Instagram account posted fake, defamatory and altered sexualised images of him to extort payment, and that the account holder threatened to ruin his life if he did not pay. In the week before 8 May 2023, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore in the High Court gave the student, who cannot be identified by court order, permission to serve notice of an injunction application on Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, which owns Instagram. When the matter returned to court on Monday 8 May 2023, the judge was told Meta had disabled the account after an investigation, and the proceedings were adjourned for a week. The student has reported the matter to gardaí, who are investigating, and no arrest or charge is reported in the sources.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court8 May
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- An Instagram account allegedly posted fake, defamatory and altered sexualised images to extort payment from a third-level student.
- The account holder allegedly told the student to make a payment and co-operate, and threatened to ruin his life and make sure the matter went viral if he did not comply.
- The student claims his image, alongside an image of male genitalia that is not his, was sent by the account holder to various contacts and followers.
- Where
- The case is recorded in County Dublin, and the sources do not give a specific location for the incident.
- When
- The incident date is not stated in the sources.
- Investigation
- The student reported the matter to gardaí, who are investigating his complaints.
- Meta disabled the account after an investigation; one source says the account was compromised, and another says Meta decided it was appropriate to disable it.
- Charges
- No arrest or charge of any person is reported in the sources.
- In court
- The student brought civil High Court proceedings against Meta Platforms Ireland Limited seeking an injunction restraining further statements about him on the account.
- In the week before 8 May 2023, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore granted the student permission to serve notice of the injunction application on Meta.
- On Monday 8 May 2023, the judge was told Meta had disabled the account, and consented to an adjournment of the proceedings for a week.
- Sentence
- No sentence is reported, as the proceedings are civil and no conviction is reported.
8 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAn Instagram account allegedly posted fake and altered sexualised images to extort payment from a third-level student. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe account holder allegedly told the student to make a payment and co-operate. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe student claims his image, alongside an image of male genitalia not his, was sent by the account holder to various contacts and followers. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationFollowing further investigation, Meta decided it was appropriate to disable the account. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe student reported the matter to gardaí, who are investigating his complaints. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe High Court granted the student permission to serve notice of an injunction application on Meta. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge consented to an adjournment of the proceedings for a week. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe account user allegedly threatened to ruin the student's life and make sure the matter went viral if he did not comply. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 8 May2023Instagram account at centre of student blackmail claim disabled by Meta, court told
Civil High Court proceedings against Meta Platforms Ireland Limited seeking an injunction. Meta has disabled the account, and the student has reported the matter to gardaí.
victim, malesuspect