New York Attorney General to Investigate Firm That Sells Fake Followers

[WhiteTara]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/27/technology/schneiderman-social-media-bots.html

The New York attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman, on Saturday opened an investigation into a company that sold millions of fake followers on social media platforms, some of them copying real users’ personal information.

The company, Devumi, and its sale of automated followers to a swath of celebrities, sports stars, journalists and politicians, was detailed in a New York Times article published earlier on Saturday. While based in Florida, Devumi claims on its website to be based in New York City.

At least 55,000 of its “bot” accounts used names, pictures, hometowns and other details taken from people on Twitter. The real users hailed from every U.S. state, including New York, and dozens of countries, a Times analysis found.

“Impersonation and deception are illegal under New York law,” Mr. Schneiderman wrote on Twitter. “We’re opening an investigation into Devumi and its apparent sale of bots using stolen identities.”


This is really big stuff. Businesses are defrauded of millions every year and the orange anus gets followers. Go Eric!!!

[malaise]

1. Get thee to the greatest page

Rec

Posted the link earlier but couldn't copy the text

[WhiteTara]

3. I saw that it made it to the LBN about 8 hours ago

but I thought it needed a day time push for encouragement.

[malaise]

4. It's very important

Kick

[WhiteTara]

5. I agree and thanks!

[50 Shades Of Blue]

2. K & R

[ehrnst]

6. Some politicians lost over a million "followers" when that NYT piece came out. (nt)