DOJ probes fake student accounts in FB

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JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra yesterday directed the Office of Cybercrime of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the proliferation of alleged dummy accounts on Facebook that have mostly victimized Filipino students.

Guevarra said he has instructed the Office of Cybercrime to coordinate with the cybercrime units of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police for a joint investigation into the incident.

Guevarra’s order came on the day that empty, duplicate, and fake Facebook accounts of mostly University of the Philippines (UP) students, officials and alumni, surfaced on social media.

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The incident was first reported by Tug-ani, the official student publication of the University of the Philippines Cebu campus, which noted the proliferation of accounts bearing the names of numerous UP Cebu students, a couple of days after eight students were arrested for holding a protest rally against the proposed anti-terror bill.

Guevarra said the issue must be resolved the fastest time especially since the country is in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic when false information could further worry the public.
“This gives me cause for worry. We don’t need false information especially at a time when we’re dealing with a serious public health crisis,” Guevarra said in a text message.

A DOJ official who declined to be named said those behind the proliferation of fake accounts, especially if they used someone’s identity or information for nefarious activities, could be charged for violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 particularly Section 4 (b) (3) for computer-related identity theft and misuse of identifying information of another person without that person’s permission.

National Privacy Commission commissioner Raymund Liboro said his office has already called the attention of Clare Amador, Facebook representative in the Philippines, about the alleged dummy accounts.

Amador, according to Liboro, has assured the NPC that Facebook Philippines management is already “investigating the matter as well as other information on unauthorized FB accounts.”

Liboro said he has instructed Facebook to “reports its significant findings as soon as it becomes available.”

Liboro also urged the public to “report alleged impostor accounts to Facebook through https://www.facebook.com/help/report.”

HANDS OFF

The University of the Philippines System (UPS) expressed alarm over the incident.

“Following protests in UP campuses and threats to our students, there are now multiple reports of empty, duplicate, and fake accounts bearing the names of UP students. We express our utmost alarm since these accounts are suspected to cause harm or spread false information. It would be best if we all stay informed and vigilant,” the UPS said in an advisory.

“We urge the members of the UP community to check their names and accounts and to make the proper report to the Data Protection Officer of Facebook,” the UPS said in a separate statement.

The UP Office of the Student Regent, said “the multiple reports on empty, duplicate and fake accounts bearing the name of UP students came after protests have been made against anti-terrorism bill in their campuses.”

“We are encouraging students not to panic and instead help each other in reporting suspicious accounts only. We just need to stand together against possible tactics seeking to silence our voice. Stay safe everyone!” it said, adding: “We are hoping that this is a glitch in the system only and can be resolved as soon as possible. However, let it be clear that we will not tolerate any misleading content posted on any account that will endanger our students.”

The advisory included a disclaimer, which said: “As much as we want to shutdown true duplicate accounts, please do exercise restraint against reporting possible real-life accounts of people having the same name as ours.”

The UPS said its Data Protection Officer (DPO) has already coordinated with the NPC “to help students and alumni report fake or dummy accounts in their name to the DPO of Facebook.”

On Sunday, the hashtag #HandsOffOurStudents, #DefendUP and #StopTheAttacks became trending on Twitter. There were more than 20,000 tweets using the hashtag as of mid-Sunday.

REPORT TO FACEBOOK

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According to Facebook, accounts and pages that impersonate other people were against its Community Standards and “aren’t allowed” on the platform.

To report, search the names used on the fake profile or page, or ask your friends to find it and click the three dotted icon on the cover photo. If you’re reporting a profile, select Find Support or Report profile then follow the on-screen instructions for impersonation to file a report.

Facebook said that if one was curious about the identity of the impostor, he/she can “you should first contact a lawyer or your local law enforcement agency and discuss this issue with them.”

Should the original account owner decide to pursue legal action, his or her lawyer can review Facebook’s operational guidelines.

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