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Fake musicians: a million-dollar Instagram verification scheme

propublica.org

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Re: Fake musicians: a million-dollar Instagram verification scheme

#51

Post by TheJoeMan »

jliptzin wrote: post #28
_fat_santa wrote: post #6

> Meta has so far removed fraudulently applied verification badges from more than 300 Instagram profiles It's not a "Verification Badge", it's a "Famous Person" badge. If you verify someone's identity, John Doe indeed controls the instagram account with his face and name, then I don't see how there could be anything fraudulent about it if it's just a "verification badge". The verification badge is supposed to show wh…

They should either change the verification badge to say “certified famous” or something, or just give out the verification badge to anyone who wants it, provided they successfully prove their identity. I don’t see how verifying my identity negatively affects Justin Bieber’s verified status, for example.

Perhaps there is a second person on earth named Justin Bieber? Then they might try to trick people. The blue check says “this is the one you probably meant”

Re: Fake musicians: a million-dollar Instagram verification scheme

#52

Post by 14 »

coastermug wrote: post #10
_fat_santa wrote: post #6

> Meta has so far removed fraudulently applied verification badges from more than 300 Instagram profiles It's not a "Verification Badge", it's a "Famous Person" badge. If you verify someone's identity, John Doe indeed controls the instagram account with his face and name, then I don't see how there could be anything fraudulent about it if it's just a "verification badge". The verification badge is supposed to show wh…

My partner runs a small brand, which attracted a copycat page clearly designed to scam users out of money for giveaways. She attempted to “get verified” and was denied because there was not enough news stories about the brand. We own the trademark to the brand name, and the verbatim copying of the copycat clearly infringes copyright. The only option we have is to file a trademark dispute through Instagram, but that i…

Meta gives no fucks is why. I’ve reported many scammers and fake profiles on Facebook and always get replies back about that the profile does not violate community standards. That is because the only standard Meta has is if the fake profile keeps posting even if it is a scam even if it is fake news that is fine by them. I had a friends account taken over by some scammer and he changed the profile picture and location and everything so tried to report it, you only get limited options of what to report there is no “someone took over my friends account” option, but nothing was done. So now my friends fake account is out there doing whatever it wants. Just realize Meta gives no fucks about you or your wife and would rather a fake profile on their platform.

Re: Fake musicians: a million-dollar Instagram verification scheme

#53

Post by yieldcrv »

jorpal wrote: post #44

I thought propublica was for hard hitting investigations on big issues of public importance? Who cares about fake badges on social media?

Hundreds of millions and billions of dollars of sales are driven by the clout of badges on social media. That's where we are now. Small one off ethical problems become social problems when they aren't one-off and then become legal problems.

Of course it is up to consumer, investor, vendors to be more discerning. Of course, they aren't. So it's not a legal problem, right now, it is a social problem and that is being addressed by reporters and the platforms. That's where we are. It is completely congruent for ProPublica to be involved at this stage.

Re: Fake musicians: a million-dollar Instagram verification scheme

#54

Post by yieldcrv »

_fat_santa wrote: post #6

> Meta has so far removed fraudulently applied verification badges from more than 300 Instagram profiles It's not a "Verification Badge", it's a "Famous Person" badge. If you verify someone's identity, John Doe indeed controls the instagram account with his face and name, then I don't see how there could be anything fraudulent about it if it's just a "verification badge". The verification badge is supposed to show wh…

That is the common perception but it is not accurate.

Its a "have you been impersonated before and is likely to occur again" badge. This is merely correlated to fame, all while a famous bucket does exist.

The corollary of this is get impersonated to get a badge (while this article is about be a Fake musician to get a badge).

Re: Fake musicians: a million-dollar Instagram verification scheme

#55

Post by riffic »

boredemployee wrote: post #38

That is so funny and in a nice timing: Tom Cormen just started to beg Twitter to have a verified account: https://twitter.com/thcormen/status/1564767028375945217

this happens so often and there's something about this (begging Twitter to notice you exist) that rubs me the wrong way. I previously said that Twitter verification is just an arbitrary label that Twitter, Inc, bestows upon someone.

Re: Fake musicians: a million-dollar Instagram verification scheme

#56

Post by echelon »

jorpal wrote: post #44

I thought propublica was for hard hitting investigations on big issues of public importance? Who cares about fake badges on social media?

> In response to information provided by ProPublica and the findings of its own investigation, Meta has so far removed fraudulently applied verification badges from more than 300 Instagram profiles, and continues to review accounts. That includes the accounts of Mike Vazquez and Lexie Salameh, two stars of the MTV reality show “Siesta Key.” Rather than get verified for their TV work, they were falsely branded online as musicians in order to receive verification. They lost their badges approximately two weeks ago and did not respond to requests for comment.

ProPublica "journalists" Craig Silverman and Bianca Fortis are total douchebags for doing this and bragging about it.

For all intents and purposes, the MTV stars are public figures and have visibility. This is such a lame move by ProPublica to attack the brand of these folks, which is what they derive their income from.

I feel like so much of this industry has turned to attention and drama seeking. This isn't journalism. This is throwing stones and complaining and trying to get clicks for it.

Shame on Craig, Bianca, and ProPublica.

Re: Fake musicians: a million-dollar Instagram verification scheme

#57

Post by pvillano »

The business strategy for social media moderation seems to universally be "offer the least support possible without breaking people's addictions or losing advertisers."

In no particular order: misinformation, foreign influence on elections, low quality content, unfair bans, report abuse, content theft, scams, unresponsive support, cyber bullying, harassment, spam, addiction, monetization instability, mental health effects, impersonation, radicalization, grooming, etc. aren't addressed because they usually don't affect ad sales enough to motivate action.

When the perception of a site becomes too negative, the absolute minimum is done as a response.

Porn and copyright infringement do affect ad sales, which is why they are resolved instantly, even at the cost of these other problems e.g. unfair bans.

Re: Fake musicians: a million-dollar Instagram verification scheme

#58

Post by InitialLastName »

bombcar wrote: post #22
adamgordonbell wrote: post #8

Wow, this article caused me to google myself and find that google has labeled me a music artist as well. I should start my own service since it seems maybe all you need to do is create a podcast, then google says you are a musician and presumably the verification process at Facebook follows google's lead.

Is it you or a name-doppleganger? The best is when you share a name with a famous criminal, and they don't have a picture of the criminal but do find your linked-in photo ...

A (mid-20s) friend shares a name with a (70-year-old) ex-IRA member, and has been pulled out of the line for extended interrogation every time he's flown since he was a child because his name triggers anti-terrorism flags.

Last I heard he even had to get a special insert for his passport where the US State department affirms that he is not, in fact, an elderly Irish paramilitant.

Re: Fake musicians: a million-dollar Instagram verification scheme

#59

Post by InitialLastName »

cruano wrote: post #46
gilleain wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

However, doesn't this "IsFamous" label break down when multiple famous people share a name. No obvious example spring to mind, but it surely must happen... Seems like it would be more useful to have some kind of more general labelling system, where you could be 'verified' as (say) a famous actor, and/or musician, or whatever. Then people could distinguish not only the famous Matt Smith from the unfamous, but also the…

I mean, Michael B. Jordan is a good example of why you don't have a good example. Even if you share the name, you have to differentiate it somehow to be marketable.

As a sibling of yours points out, it's not just for marketing: the US actors' union does not allow active (or potentially inactive) members to share a name.

Michael B. Jordan has the B because Michael Jordan has a SAG card from his movie work.

Re: Fake musicians: a million-dollar Instagram verification scheme

#60

Post by lifeisstillgood »

A couple of thoughts

1. We have seen a major period (past decade) of "wild west" online where platforms could reap but not regulate.

From AirBNB renting out homes not legally entitled to, uber validating people who assaulted passengers, to whatever this verification thing is, this period is well and truly over.

2. The problem is we don't actually know what regulation we actually want. More and more we seem to find that regulation in modern world is ... less than we expect. The SEC mostly regulated by retroactive "no", professions similarly.

The problem is that's fine on a case by case basis, it's not how you can code up something to discover at the scale we see.

Facebook could not cope with nursing mothers groups at their beginnings and most professions are at the same level.

It's not bad but it certainly seems all the regulation we have is retroactive and not codified.

Or is it just we had cosy situations between regulators and regulated. And new entrants, sneaky or otherwise broke that

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