Cork influencer's Meta glasses video of young woman's medical emergency removed by TikTok

Munster Technological University student filmed young woman receiving medical attention from emergency services in Cork City that TikTok said violated its rules around adult sexual abuse

21-year-old Ukrainian-born Vlad, who goes by Rendy Vlad online

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.

21-year-old Ukrainian-born Vlad, who goes by Rendy Vlad online, has amassed a substantial social media following, boasting more than 1.1 million 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 has previously expressed concern about these smart glasses.

One of the 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 content creator 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 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.

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

In another video posted by the creator, which was also removed from TikTok, 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.

Meta has said its smart glasses have an LED light that activates whenever someone captures content. Meta argues this light makes it clear the device is recording.

Meta also notes its terms of service state 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 Irish Examiner, the DPC said any complaints received by the commission on such issues "will be fully assessed."

The Irish Examiner has made multiple attempts to contact Rendy Vlad for comment.