Man fined for defacing ex-girlfriend's Facebook page

A man in Ireland has been fined 2,000 euros - or nearly 3,000 US dollars - for defacing his ex-girlfriend's Facebook profile, a landmark case that could set the precedent on the legality of online vandalism.

It seems to be the first time posting from someone else's Facebook has been ruled illegal, but an Irish court decided he had violated the Criminal Damage Act, which typically covers private property. He was found guilty of posting a malicious status update by using her phone.

The man was originally faced with and later acquitted of a series of more serious crimes, Engadget reports, but pleaded guilty to the profile defacement. A financial penalty was considered most appropriate, and the judge ruled that the update damaged the good name of the victim, even though it was taken down.