Facebook is Going After the DEA for Creating Fake Profiles

Facebook is Serious about Real People Using Real Names on its Service. After Initially Cracking Down on Drag Queens, the Social Network is Going after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency for Using Fake Profiles. It Wants the DEA to Know that, it is Not Ok to Create Fake Profile Pages, Even as Part of Ongoing Investigations. Facebook’s Chief Security Officer Sent a Letter to the DEA Yesterday Saying that, the Agency is Required to Follow the Same Rules of Honesty on Facebook as the Rest of us, according to the AP. That’s in the Wake of an Operation in which the DEA apparently Created a Fake Profile Page for a Suspect, Sondra Arquiett. After Arresting Arquiett in 2010, an Agent Created the Fake Profile in Order to Communicate with Other Suspects, probably Hoping to Catch them Saying Something Incriminating. Arquiett Subsequently Sued the DEA and is Seeking $250,000 in Damages. Facebook Isn’t Happy, either. “Facebook has long made clear that law enforcement authorities are subject to these policies”, Facebook’s Security Officer, Joe Sullivan, Wrote, according to the AP. “We regard DEA’s conduct to be a knowing and serious breach of Facebook’s terms and policies.” In the Case of Drag Queens, Facebook Initially Cracked Down on Many Individuals Who were Using their Alter Egos’ Names on Facebook. The Company Subsequently Clarified its Policy, Stating that, the Intention is to Get People to Use Whatever Names they’re Known by in Real Life.




Info Source:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/facebook-warns-drug-agency-fake-profiles-26280879