Facebook ordered to expose 'trolls'

Published Jun 8 2012, 15:32 BST  |  By Mark Langshaw

Facebook has been ordered to reveal the IP addresses of internet "trolls" who bullied a woman over the social network.

Nicola Brookes was harassed for months by anonymous account holders for defending X Factor UK contestant Frankie Cocozza in a status update, BBC News reports.



As the abuse escalated, Brookes was stalked across the internet and her home address was published online. One user even set up a fake Facebook profile in her name and used it to falsely portray her as a paedophile and drug dealer.

The Brighton resident has now won a court battle forcing Facebook to expose those behind the abuse so she can take legal action against them. However, she requires a further court order to force internet service providers to reveal which people the IP addresses belong to.

Brookes's solicitor has criticised Facebook for failing to take action against the bullying sooner.

He said: "Basically we need to show it's in the interests of justice... we need to prove the third party, namely Facebook, isn't just a mere witness but is in fact involved in the wrongdoing, albeit innocently, but they are involved.

"We were able to meet that criteria and hence the order was granted."

Facebook has come under fire in the past for its stance on bullying, and was forced to increase reporting controls across the site back in March.