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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNew York Attorney General to Investigate Firm That Sells Fake Followers
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/27/technology/schneiderman-social-media-bots.htmlThe 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. Were 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!!!
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New York Attorney General to Investigate Firm That Sells Fake Followers (Original Post)
WhiteTara
Jan 2018
OP
malaise
(277,180 posts)1. Get thee to the greatest page
Rec
Posted the link earlier but couldn't copy the text
WhiteTara
(30,110 posts)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
(277,180 posts)4. It's very important
Kick
WhiteTara
(30,110 posts)5. I agree and thanks!
50 Shades Of Blue
(10,818 posts)2. K & R
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)6. Some politicians lost over a million "followers" when that NYT piece came out. (nt)