Topic: RELATED TO BUSINESS ETHICS New York investigates company accused of selli

Question

Topic: RELATED TO BUSINESS ETHICS
New York investigates company accused of selling fake Twitter followers.
New York's chief prosecutor says the state is opening an investigation into a firm that allegedly sold millions of fake followers to social media users.

Impersonation and deception are illegal under New York law," said Eric Schneiderman. The company, Devumi, stands accused of stealing real people's identities, which it denies, according to the New York Times. The paper linked the "follower factory" to a host of celebrity accounts. The New York Times published an in-depth report on Devumi on Saturday, including interviews with people who alleged their account details and profile pictures had been copied to create realistic "bots". It is alleged that others who wanted to increase their follower count, including actors, entrepreneurs and political commentators, could then pay to be followed by the bots.
On social media, high follower accounts boost influence, which can impact public opinion, or bring advantages, such as job offers or sponsorship deals, to account holders.
Mr Schneiderman said he was concerned that such "opaque" operations were undermining democracy.

On its website, Devumi offers customers the chance to order up to 250,000 Twitter followers, with prices starting at $12 (£8.50). Clients can also buy "likes" and retweets.
The company sells followers on a range of other platforms, including Pinterest, LinkedIn, Soundcloud and YouTube.
Devumi has helped over 200,000 businesses, celebrities, musicians, YouTubers and other pros gain more exposure and make a big impact to their audience," says its website.
The company is registered at a New York City address, although the New York Times alleged it is a front, with its actual offices in Florida and it also employs workers in the Philippines. Twitter has responded to the investigation, saying it is working to stop Devumi and similar companies.

In the past, Twitter has been accused of not taking the problem seriously enough. It has often dismissed bot investigations as "inaccurate and methodologically flawed". The platform does allow automated accounts, but it strictly prohibits them being bought or sold. It says it will suspend accounts that are found to have purchased followers, retweets or likes. However, a representative told the New York Times it rarely does this in practice, as it is hard to prove.
The report alleges that Devumi has a stock of at least 3.5 million automated accounts, many of which are sold repeatedly. It alleges at least 55,000 of the accounts "use the names, profile pictures, hometowns and other personal details of real Twitter users, including minors".
"These accounts are counterfeit coins in the booming economy of online influence, reaching into virtually any industry where a mass audience — or the illusion of it — can be monetized. Fake accounts, deployed by governments, criminals and entrepreneurs, now infest social media networks," they wrote. Whose accounts have been linked?
The New York Times found many well-known Twitter accounts have followers from the Devumi "factory". It said the company's clients covered the political spectrum, from liberal cable pundits to a reporter at the right-wing site Breitbart and an editor at China's state-run news agency, Xinhua.
Martha Lane Fox: Entrepreneur and member of the UK's House of Lords Martha Lane Fox's Twitter account showed "a series of follower purchases spanning more than a year", including a 25,000-follower boost days after she became a Twitter board member in April 2016. She told the New York Times a "rogue employee" was responsible.
Paul Hollywood: British TV chef The investigation showed Devumi-managed bots following Paul Hollywood's official Twitter profile. Shortly after the paper emailed him to ask questions, his account was deleted.
Hilary Rosen: political commentator The CNN contributor has paid for over 500,000 Twitter followers - although most have been deleted. She said it was "an experiment I did several years ago to see how it worked".
Randy Bryce: US ironworker turned politician
On Saturday, Mr Bryce - who is trying to unseat Republican Paul Ryan in Congress - said, on Twitter, that he bought the followers as an experiment in 2015, when he was a blogger.
Questions 1.identify and analyse issues that have ethical implications.

2.Briefly describe the background to the ethical ‘event’, and the main actors and stakeholders -including those affected by the event.
• Briefly describe the event itself and its consequences. Topic: RELATED TO BUSINESS ETHICS
New York investigates company accused of selling fake Twitter followers.
New York's chief prosecutor says the state is opening an investigation into a firm that allegedly sold millions of fake followers to social media users.

Impersonation and deception are illegal under New York law," said Eric Schneiderman. The company, Devumi, stands accused of stealing real people's identities, which it denies, according to the New York Times. The paper linked the "follower factory" to a host of celebrity accounts. The New York Times published an in-depth report on Devumi on Saturday, including interviews with people who alleged their account details and profile pictures had been copied to create realistic "bots". It is alleged that others who wanted to increase their follower count, including actors, entrepreneurs and political commentators, could then pay to be followed by the bots.
On social media, high follower accounts boost influence, which can impact public opinion, or bring advantages, such as job offers or sponsorship deals, to account holders.
Mr Schneiderman said he was concerned that such "opaque" operations were undermining democracy.

On its website, Devumi offers customers the chance to order up to 250,000 Twitter followers, with prices starting at $12 (£8.50). Clients can also buy "likes" and retweets.
The company sells followers on a range of other platforms, including Pinterest, LinkedIn, Soundcloud and YouTube.
Devumi has helped over 200,000 businesses, celebrities, musicians, YouTubers and other pros gain more exposure and make a big impact to their audience," says its website.
The company is registered at a New York City address, although the New York Times alleged it is a front, with its actual offices in Florida and it also employs workers in the Philippines. Twitter has responded to the investigation, saying it is working to stop Devumi and similar companies.

In the past, Twitter has been accused of not taking the problem seriously enough. It has often dismissed bot investigations as "inaccurate and methodologically flawed". The platform does allow automated accounts, but it strictly prohibits them being bought or sold. It says it will suspend accounts that are found to have purchased followers, retweets or likes. However, a representative told the New York Times it rarely does this in practice, as it is hard to prove.
The report alleges that Devumi has a stock of at least 3.5 million automated accounts, many of which are sold repeatedly. It alleges at least 55,000 of the accounts "use the names, profile pictures, hometowns and other personal details of real Twitter users, including minors".
"These accounts are counterfeit coins in the booming economy of online influence, reaching into virtually any industry where a mass audience — or the illusion of it — can be monetized. Fake accounts, deployed by governments, criminals and entrepreneurs, now infest social media networks," they wrote. Whose accounts have been linked?
The New York Times found many well-known Twitter accounts have followers from the Devumi "factory". It said the company's clients covered the political spectrum, from liberal cable pundits to a reporter at the right-wing site Breitbart and an editor at China's state-run news agency, Xinhua.
Martha Lane Fox: Entrepreneur and member of the UK's House of Lords Martha Lane Fox's Twitter account showed "a series of follower purchases spanning more than a year", including a 25,000-follower boost days after she became a Twitter board member in April 2016. She told the New York Times a "rogue employee" was responsible.
Paul Hollywood: British TV chef The investigation showed Devumi-managed bots following Paul Hollywood's official Twitter profile. Shortly after the paper emailed him to ask questions, his account was deleted.
Hilary Rosen: political commentator The CNN contributor has paid for over 500,000 Twitter followers - although most have been deleted. She said it was "an experiment I did several years ago to see how it worked".
Randy Bryce: US ironworker turned politician
On Saturday, Mr Bryce - who is trying to unseat Republican Paul Ryan in Congress - said, on Twitter, that he bought the followers as an experiment in 2015, when he was a blogger.
Questions 1.identify and analyse issues that have ethical implications.

2.Briefly describe the background to the ethical ‘event’, and the main actors and stakeholders -including those affected by the event.
• Briefly describe the event itself and its consequences. Topic: RELATED TO BUSINESS ETHICS

New York's chief prosecutor says the state is opening an investigation into a firm that allegedly sold millions of fake followers to social media users.

Impersonation and deception are illegal under New York law," said Eric Schneiderman. The company, Devumi, stands accused of stealing real people's identities, which it denies, according to the New York Times. The paper linked the "follower factory" to a host of celebrity accounts. The New York Times published an in-depth report on Devumi on Saturday, including interviews with people who alleged their account details and profile pictures had been copied to create realistic "bots". It is alleged that others who wanted to increase their follower count, including actors, entrepreneurs and political commentators, could then pay to be followed by the bots.
On social media, high follower accounts boost influence, which can impact public opinion, or bring advantages, such as job offers or sponsorship deals, to account holders. Impersonation and deception are illegal under New York law," said Eric Schneiderman. The company, Devumi, stands accused of stealing real people's identities, which it denies, according to the New York Times. The paper linked the "follower factory" to a host of celebrity accounts. The New York Times published an in-depth report on Devumi on Saturday, including interviews with people who alleged their account details and profile pictures had been copied to create realistic "bots". It is alleged that others who wanted to increase their follower count, including actors, entrepreneurs and political commentators, could then pay to be followed by the bots.
On social media, high follower accounts boost influence, which can impact public opinion, or bring advantages, such as job offers or sponsorship deals, to account holders.
Mr Schneiderman said he was concerned that such "opaque" operations were undermining democracy.

On its website, Devumi offers customers the chance to order up to 250,000 Twitter followers, with prices starting at $12 (£8.50). Clients can also buy "likes" and retweets.
The company sells followers on a range of other platforms, including Pinterest, LinkedIn, Soundcloud and YouTube. On its website, Devumi offers customers the chance to order up to 250,000 Twitter followers, with prices starting at $12 (£8.50). Clients can also buy "likes" and retweets.
The company sells followers on a range of other platforms, including Pinterest, LinkedIn, Soundcloud and YouTube.
Devumi has helped over 200,000 businesses, celebrities, musicians, YouTubers and other pros gain more exposure and make a big impact to their audience," says its website.
The company is registered at a New York City address, although the New York Times alleged it is a front, with its actual offices in Florida and it also employs workers in the Philippines. Twitter has responded to the investigation, saying it is working to stop Devumi and similar companies. Devumi has helped over 200,000 businesses, celebrities, musicians, YouTubers and other pros gain more exposure and make a big impact to their audience," says its website.
The company is registered at a New York City address, although the New York Times alleged it is a front, with its actual offices in Florida and it also employs workers in the Philippines. Twitter has responded to the investigation, saying it is working to stop Devumi and similar companies.

In the past, Twitter has been accused of not taking the problem seriously enough. It has often dismissed bot investigations as "inaccurate and methodologically flawed". The platform does allow automated accounts, but it strictly prohibits them being bought or sold. It says it will suspend accounts that are found to have purchased followers, retweets or likes. However, a representative told the New York Times it rarely does this in practice, as it is hard to prove.
The report alleges that Devumi has a stock of at least 3.5 million automated accounts, many of which are sold repeatedly. It alleges at least 55,000 of the accounts "use the names, profile pictures, hometowns and other personal details of real Twitter users, including minors".
"These accounts are counterfeit coins in the booming economy of online influence, reaching into virtually any industry where a mass audience — or the illusion of it — can be monetized. Fake accounts, deployed by governments, criminals and entrepreneurs, now infest social media networks," they wrote. Whose accounts have been linked?
The New York Times found many well-known Twitter accounts have followers from the Devumi "factory". It said the company's clients covered the political spectrum, from liberal cable pundits to a reporter at the right-wing site Breitbart and an editor at China's state-run news agency, Xinhua.
Martha Lane Fox: Entrepreneur and member of the UK's House of Lords Martha Lane Fox's Twitter account showed "a series of follower purchases spanning more than a year", including a 25,000-follower boost days after she became a Twitter board member in April 2016. She told the New York Times a "rogue employee" was responsible.
Paul Hollywood: British TV chef The investigation showed Devumi-managed bots following Paul Hollywood's official Twitter profile. Shortly after the paper emailed him to ask questions, his account was deleted.
Hilary Rosen: political commentator The CNN contributor has paid for over 500,000 Twitter followers - although most have been deleted. She said it was "an experiment I did several years ago to see how it worked".
Randy Bryce: US ironworker turned politician
On Saturday, Mr Bryce - who is trying to unseat Republican Paul Ryan in Congress - said, on Twitter, that he bought the followers as an experiment in 2015, when he was a blogger. In the past, Twitter has been accused of not taking the problem seriously enough. It has often dismissed bot investigations as "inaccurate and methodologically flawed". The platform does allow automated accounts, but it strictly prohibits them being bought or sold. It says it will suspend accounts that are found to have purchased followers, retweets or likes. However, a representative told the New York Times it rarely does this in practice, as it is hard to prove.
The report alleges that Devumi has a stock of at least 3.5 million automated accounts, many of which are sold repeatedly. It alleges at least 55,000 of the accounts "use the names, profile pictures, hometowns and other personal details of real Twitter users, including minors".
"These accounts are counterfeit coins in the booming economy of online influence, reaching into virtually any industry where a mass audience — or the illusion of it — can be monetized. Fake accounts, deployed by governments, criminals and entrepreneurs, now infest social media networks," they wrote. Whose accounts have been linked?
The New York Times found many well-known Twitter accounts have followers from the Devumi "factory". It said the company's clients covered the political spectrum, from liberal cable pundits to a reporter at the right-wing site Breitbart and an editor at China's state-run news agency, Xinhua.
Martha Lane Fox: Entrepreneur and member of the UK's House of Lords Martha Lane Fox's Twitter account showed "a series of follower purchases spanning more than a year", including a 25,000-follower boost days after she became a Twitter board member in April 2016. She told the New York Times a "rogue employee" was responsible.
Paul Hollywood: British TV chef The investigation showed Devumi-managed bots following Paul Hollywood's official Twitter profile. Shortly after the paper emailed him to ask questions, his account was deleted.
Hilary Rosen: political commentator The CNN contributor has paid for over 500,000 Twitter followers - although most have been deleted. She said it was "an experiment I did several years ago to see how it worked".
Randy Bryce: US ironworker turned politician
On Saturday, Mr Bryce - who is trying to unseat Republican Paul Ryan in Congress - said, on Twitter, that he bought the followers as an experiment in 2015, when he was a blogger.
Questions 1.identify and analyse issues that have ethical implications.

2.Briefly describe the background to the ethical ‘event’, and the main actors and stakeholders -including those affected by the event.
• Briefly describe the event itself and its consequences. 2.Briefly describe the background to the ethical ‘event’, and the main actors and stakeholders -including those affected by the event.
• Briefly describe the event itself and its consequences.

Explanation / Answer

1.

Buying likes and followers or subscribers for the purpose of showcasing one’s success in social media platform is ethically flawed but it is in practice and people who do share a larger stage in their lives do engage themselves in the business by paying large amounts. This practice has been reported to the social media companies but there is no record of decisive actions been taken against the companies who facilitates falsification of identity, such as Devumi. Real names and addresses are stolen and used against the individual’s consent which in itself a crime and also puts in question of the political or social affiliation of that individual, making it ethically wrong for that individual and also for people who buys them increase their social appeal in the social media platforms.

2.

Martha Lane Fox, Paul Hollywood, Hilary Rosen, Randy Bryce are some of the listed examples of high profile individuals who associated themselves with Devumi or other companies for increasing their social media stature. These individuals come from political, entertainment, news business and other businesses, they do understand the fact that in todays’ day and age one has to achieve certain milestones in social media platforms to substantiate their outlook. At Devumi out of 3.5 million fake accounts, 55,000 are the real identities stolen from real people and to meet their client’s requirements Devumi sells these accounts as likes, followers or subscribers for the only reason of profiteering from selling someone else’s identity.

3.

After an investigation from New York authorities the chief prosecutor stated to investigate Duvami a company which sells various social media utilities or tools to various individuals to increase their social media platforms ownership experience. Duvami has designed bots, disguised as real individuals which are active in sites such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest etc. Now high profile individuals buy certain amounts of likes, followers etc. from Duvami to increase the likeability of the by taking a package or custom deal from Duvami. Individuals use this fake accounts to their use by promoting their views or policies through number of likes or retweets received. This malpractice may garner attention from users or normal citizens but companies like YouTube lose money as they do follow a pattern of monetizing those accounts with higher subscribers so that companies can relay their advertisements in these channels for wider audience reach, other than this it might also lead to political conundrum as the real truth of public appreciation might not be reviled in these sites.

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