A High Court judge has ordered Facebook to disclose details of underage account holders in Northern Ireland.
Judge Justice Gillen ruled that the social networking giant should supply available information as regard to a lawsuit involving an underage schoolgirl user who posted sexual photos on the site.
The alleged girl’s father has sued the company for negligence and breaching the girl’s right to privacy.
As per Facebook’s policy, nobody under 13 is eligible to be its user.
Lawyer for the girl’s father, who is currently under a care order, has claimed an open registration system made it extremely easy for her to set up social networking profiles and be at potential risk from paedophiles.
It was found that the girl created four different accounts from the age of 11 to publish sexually suggestive and inappropriate photos. As the girl had posted her personal details on the social networking website, she started receiving text messages from men which included extremely sexual content.
The company however, deactivated the girl’s accounts as soon as it received the reports. Attempts have been made, as part of the ongoing legal action, to secure more information and details of underage Facebook users.
According to the judgement, Mr Justice Gillen has blocked a number of other Facebook information requests. He held that the social networking giant should provide documentation containing notes and records on use of its network by children under 13 in Northern Ireland or the UK between 2011 and 2014.
He said that if the defendants have the documents they should check them and if they do not have them then it indicates that they do not have such information in their possession, custody or power.
The judge held that Facebook must take necessary steps to address the mischief of underage children registering.
