Courts / Ireland / Report

Facebook ordered to hand over information to Janet Jackson's ex over 'fake ads'

Summary

The High Court has adjourned a dispute between Wissam Al Mana, a UK-based Qatari national, and Facebook Ireland Ltd regarding an application for a Norwich Pharmacal order. Mr Al Mana, the applicant, alleges that unknown parties have published fake advertisements using his name and image to promote a cryptocurrency programme called Bitcoin Trader, which he claims is defamatory and maliciously false. He seeks details of the advertisers to pursue legal action. Although the matter was due for a hearing, the parties reached a temporary arrangement to avoid a judicial decision during the current health emergency. Mr Justice David Barniville adjourned the case to a date after the Easter holidays. He ordered Facebook to provide Mr Al Mana with basic subscriber information, IP addresses, and payment method details of the account holders within 14 days. Counsel for Mr Al Mana, Paul O'Higgins SC, accepted the arrangement under protest, arguing for a shorter ten-day deadline due to defamation time limits. Facebook's counsel, Cian Ferriter SC, stated the company was not consenting but would abide by the order, noting the 14-day period was shorter than standard and raising potential technical difficulties in retrieving initial registration data. The judge noted any compliance issues could be addressed when the matter returns to court. Janet Jackson, Mr Al Mana's ex-wife, is named in the report as context for his identity but is not a party to this specific procedural order.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Facebook ordered to hand over information to Janet Jackson's ex over 'fake ads'. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• May 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2020-04-01 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report