Ireland Case No. 21229Alleged blackmail and defamation · Co. Dublin
Student seeks High Court order to remove Instagram posts
In May 2023 a third-level student, who cannot be identified by court order, sought a High Court injunction against Meta Platforms Ireland Limited to remove what he describes as fake and defamatory Instagram posts. He says an unidentified account holder allegedly blackmailed him, demanding payment or threatening to send nudes to his contacts, and sent altered sexualised images of him to his contacts and followers; he says he did not pay. He reported the matter to gardaí, who are investigating, and Meta said the material did not breach its Community Guidelines and took no action. On Friday 5 May 2023, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore allowed short notice of the proceedings to be served on Meta ex parte, adjourned the matter to early the following week, and said the court was prepared to make a temporary order anonymising the student.
- Reported5 May
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court5 May
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A third-level student asked the High Court to order the removal of material he says is fake and defamatory, posted on an Instagram account.
- The account holder is alleged to have blackmailed the student and sent altered sexualised images to his contacts.
- The student's image, alongside an image of male genitalia that is not his, was sent to his contacts and followers.
- Cause
- The account holder allegedly demanded payment, threatening to send what were described as nudes to the student's Instagram and Snapchat contacts.
- Other details
- The student did not pay, and the account holder allegedly told him he would ruin his life and make sure the matter went viral.
- The student says the images were sent to his contacts, including contacts at his college.
- Counsel said the student has been defamed by the posts and his privacy rights breached.
- When
- The date of the alleged incident is not given in the sources.
- Investigation
- The student reported the matter to gardaí, who are investigating his complaints.
- The student complained to Meta, which took no action and said the material did not breach its Community Guidelines.
- In court
- On Friday 5 May 2023, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore heard the High Court application against Meta Platforms Ireland Limited.
- The judge gave the student's lawyers permission, ex parte, to serve short notice of the injunction proceedings on Meta and adjourned the matter to early the following week.
- The judge said the court was prepared to make a temporary order anonymising the student.
- Charges
- No criminal charge is reported; counsel believes sharing the false images is an offence under the Harassment, Harmful Communication and Related Offences Act 2020, known as Coco's law.
31 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA student wants the High Court to order removal of fake and defamatory material posted on Instagram. (rte.ie)
- whatThe account holder is alleged to have blackmailed the student and sent altered sexualised images to his contacts. (rte.ie)
- whatThe student wants the High Court to order removal of allegedly fake and defamatory material posted by an Instagram account holder. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe account holder allegedly blackmailed the student and sent altered sexualised images to his contacts. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe student's image, alongside an image of male genitalia that is not his, was sent to his contacts and followers. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe account user demanded payment, threatening to send nudes to all the student's Instagram and Snapchat contacts. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe student says images were sent to his contacts, including contacts at his college. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- causeThe account holder demanded payment or else threatened to send what were described as nudes to the student's contacts. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThe student complained to Meta, which said the posts did not breach its Community Guidelines. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe student has reported the matter to gardaí, who are investigating his complaints. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe student reported the matter to gardaí, who are investigating his complaints. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeCounsel believes the sharing of the false images is an offence under the 2020 Harassment, Harmful Communication and Related Offences Act, known as Coco's law. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe application against Meta came before Mr Justice Brian O'Moore on a Friday afternoon. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com, leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge granted permission to serve short notice of the injunction proceedings against Meta and adjourned the matter to early the following week. (rte.ie)
- courtThe court was prepared to make a temporary order anonymising the student. (rte.ie)
- courtThe student brought High Court proceedings seeking an order restraining Meta from publishing further statements about him on the account. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge gave the student's lawyers permission, on an ex parte basis, to serve short notice of the injunction proceedings on Meta. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge adjourned the matter to early the following week. (irishtimes.com, leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge said the court was prepared to make a temporary order anonymising the applicant. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe student has brought High Court proceedings seeking an order restraining Meta from publishing further statements about him. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge gave the student's lawyers permission to serve short notice of the injunction proceedings on Meta on an ex-parte basis. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge was prepared to make a temporary order anonymising the student. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe account holder allegedly demanded payment, threatening to send nudes to the student's contacts. (rte.ie)
- otherThe student did not pay the alleged blackmailer. (rte.ie)
- otherThe student's counsel said his client had been defamed and his privacy rights breached. (rte.ie)
- otherThe student did not pay the blackmailer. (irishtimes.com, leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe student complained to Meta, which has not taken any action on the account and said the matters did not breach its community guidelines. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCounsel said the student has been defamed by the posts and his privacy rights breached. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe account holder told the student he would ruin his life and make sure the matter went viral. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherMeta said the material did not breach its Community Guidelines and took no action. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherCounsel believes sharing the false images is an offence under Coco's law. (leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 5 May2023Student being blackmailed ask court to order META to take down Instagram account
Civil High Court application against Meta Platforms Ireland Limited for a restraining order; the student says he was blackmailed by an unidentified Instagram account holder and that gardaí are investigating. The article does not state the county or date of the alleged incident.
victim, malesuspect - 5 May2023Student wants court to order removal of ‘fake and defamatory’ material posted on Instagram
Civil High Court injunction application against Meta; the article reports no criminal charge. Gardaí are investigating the student's complaints, and counsel says the sharing of images may be an offence under Coco's law.
victimsuspect - 5 May2023Student seeks court order over 'fake' Instagram posts
Reports a High Court injunction application against Meta Platforms Ireland Limited. The student cannot be identified by court order and the account holder is unnamed.
victim, malesuspect