Think before you type; online dating tales may lead to legal battles.
Sharing personal stories or experiences online, especially when they include someone else’s personal information, can potentially open individuals to lawsuits, as seen in a case filed in Illinois on Monday.
A Chicago man is suing 27 women, one man, and several divisions of the social media giant Meta over allegedly disparaging posts in a Facebook group titled “Are We Dating the Same Guy?”
In a lawsuit filed in the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Nikko D’Ambrosio claims, among other things, doxing, which, under the Illinois Civil Liability for Doxing Act, is illegal as of the beginning of this year. In addition to Illinois, states like Oregon, Texas, Nevada, California, and Maryland have laws against doxing, defined as “the act of sharing someone’s personal information online without their consent.”
Pheelings Media/Getty Images
D’Ambrosio is also claiming defamation and invasion of privacy and is seeking damages exceeding $75,000. The case arises from a post in the Chicago chapter of the widespread Facebook group, where members share experiences with dates, often leading to public shaming and personal attacks.
The lawsuit extends beyond the individuals who posted in the group. Outside of Meta, he is targeting the administrators of the “Are We Dating the Same Guy?” page, and several tech giants including Patreon, GoFundMe, and the website arewedatingthesame.com. His legal team argues the platforms facilitated the spread of defamatory content and have profited from the advertising revenue generated on the pages.
The lawsuit specifically details how D’Ambrosio’s interactions with one woman, Abbigail Rajala, led to her posting in the Facebook group, which D’Ambrosio alleges was defamatory. According to the complaint, the two met in Chicago and had consensual sexual intercourse but did not engage in an exclusive dating relationship. Rajala’s post, which included D’Ambrosio’s photograph, was initially removed after a request from his attorneys but was later re-uploaded anonymously.
Other posts about D’Ambrosio appeared in the Facebook group, which his lawyers claim are also defamatory. One user described her experience with D’Ambrosio, alleging that he “ghosted” her after they had slept together, and advised others to steer clear of him. Another user in the group described him as “very clingy very fast,” and mentioned feeling uncomfortable with how he flaunted his wealth and made cryptic remarks about not wanting her to see his “bad side.”
D’Ambrosio’s legal team pointed to the group’s exclusive nature as an invite-only platform, suggesting that the privacy setting allows for unchecked doxing and defamation. They also argue that the setup makes it difficult for individuals targeted in the posts to be aware of or respond to the allegations against them.
The complaint further accuses the defendants of using D’Ambrosio’s identity for commercial purposes without permission, citing their engagement in crowdfunding on GoFundMe and Patreon, as well as monetization activities related to the group.
In his lawsuit, D’Ambrosio seeks various forms of relief, including an injunction to prevent further defamatory publications, compensatory and punitive damages, and the coverage of legal costs.
The law group representing D’Ambrosio shared a press release with Newsweek, noting its intent to escalate the matter to a class action lawsuit. The firm said it is representing the interests of potentially thousands of individuals nationwide who have faced similar defamatory and harassing experiences through the “Are We Dating the Same Guy?” community.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.