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unsubstantiated
UCD investigation dismisses 'revenge porn' allegations made by college newspaper
The investigation found “no evidence” of a specific private Facebook group in which male students were said to be sharing intimate photos of female students.
AN INVESTIGATION INTO reports of a private Facebook ‘revenge porn’ group at UCD has found that there is no substance to those allegations.
In a statement this evening college registrar Professor Mark Rogers said the specific accusations that had been made in an article in college newspaper the College Tribune, had not been upheld.
The investigation found that:
- the evidence in the initial article was based on “hearsay from anonymous comments on Yik Yak”, and that the editor and reporter of the article were aware that this was the case
- no students came forward seeking support from university services for the alleged incident
- no evidence could be found of the alleged private Facebook group, which was said to have 200 male members, in which UCD students were posting intimate photographs of female students
- none of the material found during the course of the investigation warranted referral to the gardaí
Rogers said that, despite his investigation dismissing the claims made by the College Tribune, he is “not so naïve as to believe that the university community is immune to this type of activity”.
If you have been affected by the inappropriate sharing of private information on social media, the student advisors and wider University support services are available to you.
In addition, if you see illicit and/or explicit material on university-related sites, you should immediately bring this to the attention of the university authorities or an Garda Siochána.
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