New York cracks down on companies selling fake socials activity

If you’ve ever been tempted to spend money inflating your Instagram followers, SoundCloud streams or other social metrics, here’s the latest useful warning not to. The state of New York has reached a settlement with a now-defunct firm called Devumi, after attorney general Letitia James launched an investigation into the company last year. In an announcement of the settlement, her office explained that Devumi and related companies “sold fake followers, ‘likes,’ views and other forms of online endorsement and activity to users of social media platforms… using bot and sock-puppet accounts… In addition, Devumi sold endorsements from social media influencers without disclosing that the influencers had been paid for their recommendations”. It’s the first time a US law-enforcement agency has found that this kind of business is illegal, and thus sends out a stark message to other firms promising social-media inflation to customers. “As people and companies like Devumi continue to make a quick buck by lying to honest Americans, my office will continue to find and stop anyone who sells online deception,” said James. “With this settlement, we are sending a clear message that anyone profiting off of deception and impersonation is breaking the law and will be held accountable.”

Source: Music Ally