NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Fake forum comments are 'eroding' trust in the web
Fake forum comments are 'eroding' trust in the web
http://j.mp/u9iW1D (BBC)
Trust in information on the web is being damaged by the huge numbers
of people paid by companies to post comments online, say researchers.
Fake posters can "poison" debate and make people unsure about who they
can trust, the study suggests. Some firms have created tens of
thousands of fake accounts to flood chat forums and skew debate."
- - -
In the case of discussion boards where the admin can see both the
email address used for sign-up verification and the chosen usernames,
it is often fairly obvious which are fakes based on the cryptic and
uncoordinated naming choices (caused apparently by the need to try
create so many accounts quickly). I see these every day and zap them
as rapidly as possible. But only pre-moderation can deal with many of
these situations, unfortunately.
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren
Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org
Founder:
- Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org
- Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance: http://www.gctip.org
- PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com
Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Google+: http://vortex.com/g+lauren
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com