Benfica seeks identities behind alleged defamation account

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Benfica sought High Court orders requiring Twitter to identify the people behind an account accused of defaming the Portuguese football club, at a hearing on 17 November 2022.

Twitter did not object to the request, subject to the court finding the orders appropriate. Justice Brian O’Moore said their gist appeared justified, but asked for details about steps Benfica might take in Portugal. He adjourned the case for one week and said he intended to make final orders then.

Benfica said the account posted allegations of financial and other impropriety, which the club denied. The report said the account held confidential material that Benfica believed derived from a 2017 hack of its IT system.

This report covers an earlier stage of the case. Later developments are not reported here.