Cork ‘prankster’ video violated TikTok rules

A Cork-based social media personality who uses camera glasses to film his content has had a video depicting a medical emergency involving a young woman in Cork city removed by TikTok for violating its rules around adult sexual abuse.

Ukrainian-born Vlad, aged 21, who goes by Rendy_Vlad online, has amassed a substantial social media following, boasting more than 1.1m followers on TikTok and almost 12,000 followers on Instagram.

The Munster Technological University (MTU) student frequently films interviews and videos he calls “pranks” across Cork and elsewhere in Ireland, with many of those featured in his content unaware that they are being filmed.

Much of the content posted by the computer science student, who calls himself a “POV [point of view] Prankster” is labelled as being filmed using Ray-Ban Meta glasses.

The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has previously expressed concern about these smart glasses and the means by which people captured in videos by them can receive notice that they are being recorded.

One of the creator’s recently posted videos, which received severe backlash after being shared on both TikTok and Instagram, showed a young woman receiving medical attention from emergency services in Cork city.

The video shows the 21-year-old approaching the young woman as she is being attended to by paramedics. It goes on to show the young woman being placed in an ambulance, before the content creator turns to film passers-by who witnessed the incident.

According to TikTok, the video was removed by the platform for violating its rules around adult sexual abuse.

It noted that the company “does not allow harassing, degrading, or bullying behaviour” on its platform.

Despite its removal by TikTok, Meta has not removed the video from Instagram.

It is understood that this video was labelled by Meta as a prank post, which does not fall into its violating categories as they are “not threatening or malicious”.

The social media personality has previously encouraged his large TikTok following to also follow his lesser-known Instagram account, where he “never deletes anything”.

REMOVED

In another video posted by the creator, which was also removed from TikTok but not Instagram, the MTU student filmed himself approaching staff members in a Douglas shopping centre and “pranking” them as they worked, before being barred from the shopping centre by another staff member, who he also filmed.

Other videos posted by the Ukrainian native depict him “pranking” and filming staff members in shopping centres in Blackpool and Mahon, entering staff-only areas in Cork restaurants, and setting off alarms in a city supermarket.

Meta has said that its smart glasses, which are frequently used by the Cork-based content creator, have an LED light that activates whenever someone captures content. Meta argues that this light makes it clear the device is recording.

Meta also notes that its terms of service state that users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and for using Ray-Ban Meta glasses in a safe, respectful manner.

In a statement to The Echo, the DPC said any complaints received by the commission on such issues “will be fully assessed”.

MTU told The Echo: "Munster Technological University is aware of content circulating online which has caused concern.

"MTU expects all students to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the University’s values, including respect for others, dignity, and personal privacy.

"Where matters of student behaviour are brought to our attention, they are considered in line with the university’s policies and procedures. As with all such cases, it would not be appropriate to comment on individual circumstances."

has made multiple attempts to contact Rendy_Vlad for comment.