A cyclist who knocked down a 5-year-old girl on Christmas Day has successfully sued the girl’s father for sharing a video of the incident online.
The incident happened in Belgium in 2021. The cyclist, who has not been identified, was cycling on a bicycle path when the girl crossed his path without looking. The cyclist could not brake in time and hit the girl, who fell to the ground crying.
The girl’s father, Patrick Mpasa, filmed the incident and shared it on social media. The video quickly went viral, generating outrage from internet users, who blamed the cyclist for knocking down the girl.
The cyclist then sued Mpasa for defamation, alleging that the video made him look like a criminal. He argued that Mpasa did not have permission to film him and that the video exposed him to moral damages.
In September 2023, a Belgian court ruled in favor of the cyclist. Mpasa was ordered to pay the cyclist 10,000 euros in damages.
The case has divided opinions. Some people believe that Mpasa had the right to share the video, as it showed a crime. Others believe that the video was harmful to the cyclist and that Mpasa should have been more careful when sharing it.
The case is a reminder of the importance of being careful when sharing videos online. Even if you believe you are sharing a video for a good reason, it is possible that you could be sued for defamation or other legal problems.