Judge finds dad’s abusive livestreams about ex were psychological harm
A New Zealand High Court judge ruled that a man's persistent livestreaming of abusive content about his ex-partner constitutes psychological harm. The case highlights the legal risks influencers face when using social media platforms to air personal grievances.
Why it matters
It sets a legal precedent for how digital harassment and 'story time' content can be prosecuted under family violence and digital communication laws.
To learn more about this case and the Harmful Digital Communications Act, watch the latest episode of the Open Justice podcast Case by Case in the video above, or listen to the audio episode here:
Two words that have become a social media staple.
But influencers and would-be commentators who frame their “story times” as exposés without any editorial oversight are finding themselves before the courts.
As platforms grow and livestreaming becomes lucrative, users chase engagement because engagement means money, gifts, subscriptions, and, in some cases, hourly payouts.
And one of the most reliable hooks is the messy, blow-by-blow retelling of relationship breakdowns where audiences eagerly choose sides.
In 2024, the High Court awarded $780,000 in damages to a woman after a user repeatedly posted defamatory comments about another person on a community Facebook page.
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