Instagram and TikTok Ban Cork Smart-Glasses Prankster Rendy Vlad

TikTok has banned the account of Vladyslav Morhulets, the Cork-based creator known online as Rendy Vlad, days after Meta removed his Instagram profile for what it called repeated violations of its bullying and harassment policies, the Irish Examiner reported on Thursday, Oct. 29. The 21-year-old, who is Ukrainian-born and a former student at Munster Technological University (MTU), built his following by filming people across Cork with camera-equipped smart glasses, often without their knowledge.

At the time of the bans, Morhulets had 1.1 million followers on TikTok, with a combined 13.6 million likes on his videos, and nearly 12,000 followers on Instagram, according to the Irish Examiner.

Meta and TikTok act days apart

Meta confirmed the Instagram removal to the Irish Examiner on Tuesday, Oct. 27. "We don't tolerate harassing content, however it was captured, and have removed the account @rendy_vlad for repeatedly violating our bullying and harassment policies," a Meta spokesperson said in the statement published by the paper.

Meta also makes the smart glasses Morhulets used. In the same statement, the company said: "The vast majority of people use our AI glasses because they're helpful in everyday moments like listening to music, getting live translation while travelling, or making a call hands-free." The spokesperson added that every pair with a camera "has a bright light on the front that flashes when you take a photo or video you can share with others," and that "If the glasses detect that the capture LED light was covered, physically tampered with, or destroyed, they'll automatically disable the camera."

TikTok's action followed. According to the company, content that violated its guidelines had already been removed from the account, and after further investigation it banned the account entirely, the Irish Examiner reported. TikTok said it does not allow content that harasses or bullies others, and pointed to Community Guidelines that prohibit the marketing of regulated or high-risk goods and services, including gambling and gambling-like activities. JOE.ie also reported that the TikTok account appeared to have been removed.

Extra.ie reported that one of Morhulets' videos was taken down by TikTok earlier this year for breaching its rules on sexual abuse; it is understood the clip showed a young woman having a medical emergency in Cork city. Other content described by the Irish Examiner included interactions with retail staff and "pranks" in which he pretends to give money to vulnerable people before taking it back. No response from Morhulets was included in the October reports.

Smart glasses, monetisation and an unlicensed gambling site

In a July investigation, the Irish Examiner reported that Morhulets, who calls himself a POV (point-of-view) prankster, filmed with Meta Ray-Ban glasses. After being removed from a furniture store over a prank in which he hid under the sheets of a display bed, he told a staff member: "This is how I make my money." Several people he filmed told the paper they saw no recording light.

The same report found that his videos promoted Rainbet, a crypto gambling platform that does not hold a licence to operate in Ireland. In one clip, filmed while hiding under the bed, he says: "Let's actually play some Rainbet." The Irish Examiner reported that TikTok's creator rewards program is not available to creators based in Ireland, leaving brand deals as a main source of income.

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland told the paper: "It is illegal for an individual to promote an unlicensed operator." The regulator said unlicensed bookmaking is an offence under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 and carries a potential penalty of up to eight years' imprisonment. Morhulets did not comment when contacted for that report.

Calls for regulation in Cork and at the Oireachtas

The bans follow months of local controversy. In May, Labour Senator Laura Harmon raised non-consensual filming at the Oireachtas Committee on AI, Cork Beo reported, after reports that women in Cork had been filmed at work and during medical emergencies. "Regulation must work to keep pace with evolving technologies," she said. "These wearable recording devices and any others that follow must be limited to protect privacy and reflect informed consent above all else."

The Echo reported at the time that Labour councillor Ciara O'Connor had put down a motion asking Cork City Council to seek an urgent review of the regulation of AI-enabled smart glasses. The paper also reported that gardaí were making enquiries into an incident at a Cork city gelato shop in which a staff member threw a spatula at Morhulets after he repeatedly re-entered the premises.

The privacy concerns predate this case. When Facebook introduced its camera-equipped Ray-Ban glasses in Ireland and Italy in 2021, Ireland's Data Protection Commission and Italy's regulator said: "It has not been demonstrated to the DPC and Garante that comprehensive testing in the field was done by Facebook or Ray-Ban to ensure the indicator LED light is an effective means of giving notice."

Some businesses have also acted. Extra.ie reported that BD Gyms, West Wood Club and FlyeFit have banned wearing and using Meta glasses on their premises.