Social Media Impersonation Case Raises Questions on Student Rights and University Fairness in the UK

Social media indeed happens to be one of the most dominant tools of communication around the world, but, unfortunately, it has opened new avenues for fraud and impersonation. The risks are very high, and millions of users all around the world have been subjected to scams such as fake accounts, phishing, and identity theft. Scam losses reached £11.4 billion in 2024 in the UK alone, while over 61% of Britons reported being victims of online fraud. Most of the cases reported all involve social media identity theft, where the intention of creating fake accounts is to spread harmful content or damage reputations.

In this context, a civil suit against a university by a student raises larger questions concerning the rights of students in higher education and the fairness of disciplinary procedures or the legality of online harassment.

Background Case

Reports indicated that Sarah Mbabazi was expelled from Richmond American University, London, UK, in 2024 for her undergraduate degree. The university took that action after receiving a report lodged about posts on X which were said to propagate hate concerning the Israel–Gaza conflict. This was treated as one of the university's online hate speech accusations.

Mbabazi argued that she had been impersonated, but the university initially ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support her claim. Following this, she raised a complaint with the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) university's procedure, alleging the lack of appointment of a social media expert by the university and the absence of assessment of the digital evidence in university disciplinary hearings.

OIA Review and Re-Enrolment

OIA upheld the complaint to the effect that the university had failed to give a proper reason for its decision and had not given a written summary of the disciplinary panel meeting. This led to the appointment of a new panel by Richmond American University London to review the case.

The panel concluded that there was neither evidence tying Mbabazi to the posts nor any breach of the student code of conduct. Later, she was granted the chance to re-enrol and awarded damages. However, she argued that the compensation offered would not cover her financial losses, which included self-support for over a year and hindrance to her career. She also indicated that she did not receive a full apology.

It has been described, this outcome is a result of the OIA finding no evidence linking the student to social media posts; therefore, the student is awarded re-enrolment, but Mbabazi maintains that the university has failed in handling her case.

Civil Action Lawsuit Launched

Moving forward, Mbabazi has now instituted legal action before the London County Court against the university, seeking £98,000 in damages. A hearing has not yet been scheduled. She said that spending 18 months in suspension led to social stigma, withdrawal of funding, and deteriorating mental health. She added that she was a vulnerable student because she was estranged from her family, as well as encountering situations leading to depression and anxiety.

This recent event now classifies itself as a matter of higher education litigation in the UK, showing how defamation cases against UK students can, in fact, build up into civil claims.

Online Impersonation and Wider Trends

Mbabazi further declared that she had been a victim of cyberbullying and catfished with incendiary tweets written on a profile using her Instagram picture, but with an almost similar name attached. The only difference between her account and the impersonated one was a letter. According to her assertions, this could have been the reason why the university investigation did not look into the possibility that she could have been mistakenly identified as a university student on social media and was a victim of social media identity theft.

Authorities have highlighted that such cases are increasingly being registered in the UK, with universities, workplaces, and public institutions also affected. One of the fastest-growing threats identified as synthetic identities and impersonation in the TransUnion UK Fraud and Identity Report 2025 further underlines the significance of social media impersonation in university disciplinary procedures and the implications of false accusations in academia.

Response of the University

Richmond American University London is dedicated to upholding fair and transparent disciplinary proceedings in line with the registration conditions and OIA's procedures, according to the university representative. However, individual cases cannot be subject to such remarks, and each concern is taken seriously and accompanied by clear opportunities for appeal and review.

Conclusion

This event, in which the student has been expelled due to a fake social media account, goes further to showcase the growing danger of social media impersonation in higher learning institutions. It heightens even more questions regarding fairness in university discipline, how digital evidence is handled in university disciplinary hearings, and what legal implications of social media impersonation are.

This case speaks to and underlines what must be done by universities as online misconduct spills into academic and professional circles. Cases such as these point to the urgent need for universities to come up with stronger systems that protect students from wrongful expulsion and provide equity in UK university disciplinary hearings in London.

Editor’s Note

The serious consequences involved in instances when social media impersonation is not tackled appropriately within the academic world appear starkly evident in this case. Risks of misidentification exist in cases of expulsion, and the utmost importance lies in disciplinary procedures having fairness and transparency; thus, it serves as a reminder that reputations and futures can truly be damaged when digital evidence is not reviewed with due care. In a larger context, the issue reflects an emerging challenge for universities and institutions in the United Kingdom. The increase in online hate speech, identity fraud, and cyberbullying requires urgent disciplinary hearings. If institutions are unable to implement clear guidelines and develop skills to respond to all forms of digital misconduct, they run the risk of eroding student rights and diminishing public confidence in higher education. The lesson of this case, however, extends to society. It demonstrates how online misconduct can affect academic life, inflicting lasting harm on individuals, and raises broader questions related to fairness, accountability, and trust. The lessons learned from this suggest that there should be tighter safeguards and clearly defined policies in place across the entire sector.

Skoobuzz asserts that this episode underscores the vital responsibility of organisations to uphold individual respect and safeguard credibility and trust. By increasing transparency and fairness in their procedures, institutions can maximise the potential for justice while maintaining the confidence of both the academic and professional communities.

FAQs

1. Why was the student expelled from Richmond American University London?

The student was expelled from the university after it received a complaint regarding posts on X that claimed to constitute hate speech. The institution treated the complaints as grounds of misconduct, but the student in question stated that she had been impersonated on a fake account.

2. What role did the OIA fulfil in this case?

The Office of the Independent Adjudicator noted that the OIA university procedure had commented on the student's complaint, stating that the university had not been clear with its decision. The OIA noted lapses in dealing with digital evidence during university disciplinary hearings and asked the university to reconsider the case.

3. What decision was made after the university's reconsideration?

A new panel ruled that there was no evidence directly linking the student to the posts. Therefore, she was allowed to re-enrol and granted damages. However, she argued that this amount was not sufficient to cover her losses or the impact on her career.

4. Why has the student filed a civil lawsuit against the university?

The student has filed a civil suit against the university, claiming £98,000 in damages, saying that for the 18 months of her expulsion, she was socially stigmatised, lost access to funding, and experienced a deterioration in mental health.

5. How does the case bring out larger issues in higher education?

The case highlights the dangers of social media identity theft and misidentification of university students on behalf of social media. It raises questions surrounding the rights of students in higher education, fairness in disciplinary procedures, and the necessity for universities to adjust to online misconduct.

6. What is the implication for safety and public interest?

This matter exemplifies how online impersonation is affecting academic life and raises serious issues of safety and trust. It calls for procedures and fair investigations to counterbalance the credibility of institutions and the public interest in protecting vulnerable students.

7. What future steps should universities take in similar cases?

Universities would need to improve their work on digital evidence for disciplinary hearings with an appropriate appointee where needed, thus providing for fair decision-making. Short, sharp, easily understood policies on online harassment and university procedures to protect students will be the touchstone for the trust of the institution.