时间：2025-10-29 01:42:58 来源：网络整理编辑：百科
Fake followers, fake likes: they've flooded social media in the past few years.While companies have
Fake followers, fake likes: they've flooded social media in the past few years.
While companies have taken action against fraud accounts, in New York, selling bots and fraudulent social media activity now could land you in hot water. In fact, it's against the law.
SEE ALSO:Despite 'transparency' claims, Facebook stops watchdogs from monitoring adsNew York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Wednesday it had settled with U.S. company Devumi, which had been under investigation following a New York Timesexposé which revealed its shady social media practices.
Tweet may have been deleted
The settlement makes selling fake likes and followers illegal in the state of New York. It's one of the first actions taken by a law enforcement agency against the practice.
"As people and companies like Devumi continue to make a quick buck by lying to honest Americans, my office will continue to find and stop anyone who sells online deception," James said in a statement online.
"With this settlement, we are sending a clear message that anyone profiting off of deception and impersonation is breaking the law and will be held accountable."
Devumi, which folded last August, was employed by a number of high-profile celebrities to help build their online following. Some clients knew the business used fake activity to boost online profiles, while others thought the increased engagement came from genuine people.
The investigation found in some instances Devumi scraped the accounts of real people without their consent to build fake profiles.
Of course, the fake follower business was a lucrative one: CNN notes that Devumi earned approximately $15 million in revenue, but the negative publicity following the Times' revelation led to the decline of its business, and eventually its closure.
TopicsSocial Media
Metallica to seek and destroy your eardrums with new album this fall2025-10-29 01:38
Coronavirus quarantine has us all feeling like teens again2025-10-29 01:19
Instagram meme account with 14 million followers banned for coronavirus scam2025-10-29 00:30
'Me at 20' throwback pictures are the latest trend online2025-10-29 00:25
5 people Tim Cook calls for advice on running the biggest company in the world2025-10-29 00:21
How fast does your internet need to be to survive quarantine life?2025-10-29 00:15
Bravo's 'Family Karma' is an addictive and too real reality show2025-10-29 00:10
iPhone screen time is up thanks to coronavirus social distancing2025-10-28 23:38
MashReads Podcast: What makes a good summer read?2025-10-28 23:19
Boring phone game Wordscapes is also a lovely self2025-10-28 23:04
Carlos Beltran made a very interesting hair choice2025-10-29 01:36
The movies we're watching on repeat while coronavirus keeps us home2025-10-29 01:07
Actually, wear whatever you want while working from home2025-10-29 01:04
Ubisoft is giving away free games starting with 'Rayman Legends'2025-10-29 00:52
The five guys who climbed Australia's highest mountain, in swimwear2025-10-29 00:50
Apple to launch MacBooks with better keyboards soon, report says2025-10-29 00:49
Please enjoy these dogs singing along to the ‘Law & Order’ theme song2025-10-29 00:47
Jack Dorsey invites you to follow along via Google Docs as he spends $1 billion on COVID2025-10-29 00:23
J.K. Rowling makes 'Harry Potter' joke about Olympics event2025-10-28 23:59
Tip: Use iMessage Tapbacks for impromptu polls2025-10-28 23:33
