Student’s blackmail account disabled after Meta inquiry

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

An Instagram account used to blackmail an unnamed third-level student was disabled after a Meta investigation, the High Court was told on 8 May 2023.

The student had sought orders against Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, including an injunction over further publication of material on the account. Meta’s lawyers said the account had been compromised and was being operated by an unnamed third party; they said the platform disabled it after further investigation.

The proceedings were adjourned for a week so the student could consider Meta’s response. The student’s claims that altered sexualised images were circulated and that he was threatened with extortion remained allegations in the report.