Facebook and Instagram take the war on fake accounts to court

As much as Facebook’s services hope to be about authenticity and connection, they are hotbeds of inauthenticity and fakery. Like other Social media companies, they know this and have turned a blind eye to this as they piled more sacrifices to the twin gods of MAU (Monthly Active Users) and DAU (Daily Active Users).

That much has changed in recent times as firms have battled against the scourge they let grow. Facebook filed a suit against four companies and three individuals based in China who promoted fake accounts, likes and followers in their platforms as well as those of other tech giants like Apple, Google, Amazon, and Twitter.

According to Facebook, the firm’s lawsuit is intended to prevent the entities sued from:

• Creating and promoting the sale of fake accounts, likes, and followers on Facebook and Instagram
• Infringing on our trademarks on their websites
• Using Facebook-branded domain names to operate their websites (i.e. cybersquatting)

Fake accounts on Facebook have been useful in the spread and amplification of propaganda and fake news. Something Facebook has been complicit and in and criticised for especially in the wakes of the Brexit campaign and 2016 US Presidential election. By taking action, the firm wants to appear like it is doing something. Whether or not it would be effective is yet to be seen.