NRL Memes Facebook group claims it can’t be touched after leaking details of NRL player videos
Rogue Facebook group NRL Memes is stoking the flames of an off season from hell after leaking details of videos involving star players, but the global social media giant is refusing to reveal the identity of the page owner due to Australian privacy laws.
A rogue Facebook group is stoking the flames of an NRL off season from hell and basking in its fiery glory, claiming its anonymity makes it above the law.
The administrator of NRL Memes, which leaked details of alleged sex tapes of NRL player Dylan Napa to its 300,000 followers, said they can’t be touched because law enforcement don’t know who they are.
Three videos of an illicit nature have emerged so far, two which appear to show the Canterbury Bulldogs prop having sex with a woman, demanding she call him “Big Papa” and another where he appears to be masturbating while watching a teammate.
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The page worsened a league plagued by scandals, leaking an old video of St George Illawarra player Corey Norman in the presence of a 77-year-old man snorting what appears to be cocaine.
At least 10 clubs have been involved in off season scandals, including several assault charges.
Both players are new to their clubs, signing contracts in the off season.
A statement from the Bulldogs confirmed that Napa is seeking legal advice and has contacted NSW police.
Facebook will not reveal the owner of the page as it is against Australian privacy law, which the NRL Memes administrator believes makes him impossible to catch.
“They have nothing to pursue me for, and even if they did have anything against me which they don’t, they can’t touch me,” the administrator told The Daily Telegraph.
“Who are they going to serve legal documents to?
“How are they going to find out who administrates this page?”
In the past the page has targeted dozens of other players, often publishing a relentless barrage of posts on the same topic.
There are currently 16 posts in four days targeted at Napa.
Since December last year the page has also targeted Darius Boyd, Wayne Bennett, Cameron Smith, Dylan Walker, Anthony Mundine and various NRL clubs.
Defamation lawyer from Macpherson Kelley, Justin Quill, said the posts by the page would only classify as defamatory if the associated text was damaging.
“It’s only if it’s published with words or in a context that changes the meaning,” he said.
Speaking hypothetically, Mr Quill said “For example if someone was to say something that would suggest that the woman in the video was being raped or someone suggested he is married and that’s not his wife — that is totally different.
“People publishing things on social media are just as liable for defamation claims as the mainstream media such as newspapers or television stations, but the mainstream media are far more responsible than most people on Facebook or Twitter or those entities themselves that facilitate people making inappropriate comments.
“But the publication of the video itself, absent of anything else or context which changes the meaning — video is video.”
Mr Quill said the posts are more likely to fall under revenge porn laws introduced in August 2017, whereby those who share intimate images without consent can face a maximum sentence of three years jail and an $11,000 fine.
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg was not available to comment as he is on annual leave, with representatives declining to comment in his absence.
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