Fake Facebook or Twitter accounts

D. theft prosecution can go ahead in a case where a lady is charged with impersonating her lover on a fake Facebook page and posting inflaming comments. In question is a New Jersey law that makes it illegal to pretend to be somebody "for the goal of getting a benefit for himself or another or to hurt or deceive another." Pria Chetty, legal expert and associate director at PwC, explained the ECT Act would be first reference point. "Included in its objectives is preventing abuse of info systems," related Chetty.

"Section 87 ( two ) of the Act applies to PC related crime and creates the production of fake info with the intention that it be considered or acted on as though it were real is an offence. The penalties are a fine or imprisonment for at least five years." "The victim of impersonation could also suffer other actionable harms dependent on the circumstances like invasion of privacy and intellectual property infringement," explained Chetty. "Celebrities like Michael Jackson registered their names and performances as trademarks and impersonation of such celebs might end in trademark infraction claims." Chetty added that as well as the rights in law, there are contractual concerns. "Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter impose terms of use of their sites grumbles procedures." "While such procedures have come under feedback for inefficiency, civil culpability for violation of the procedures is real and might result in the payment of damages to the owners of such sites and the sufferers of impersonation," announced Chetty.

"In the face of possible conflicts of laws across different nations, self regulation of social media will be crucial to its continued expansion. Social media corporations should be digging into inventive identity authentication mechanisms and improving potency of handling of grouses procedures," Chetty concluded.