Definition
Online impersonation most often involves the creation of an account profile that uses someone else’s name, image, likeness or other characteristics without that person’s permission to create a false or misleading impression that the account is controlled by them.
Background
Impersonation often occurs as a result of Phishing, and can be used to sell Counterfeit products, or to publish Disinformation and Misinformation.
Impersonation may also include “deceptive identities”, where an actor poses as someone who doesn’t exist to mislead others. Increasingly, deceptive accounts use Synthetic Media to create a photo-realistic image of a person that doesn’t exist. Copyright issues may also come into play if the account is infringing on a third party copyright.
Most services provide exceptions for parody, commentary, and fan accounts, providing the account uses some means of conveying they are not representing the other person’s or company’s official profile, either by using the term “parody”, “fan account”, “satire”, “commentary” etc. in the display name or profile bio.
Some jurisdictions have made it illegal (e.g. California, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, Louisiana, Mississippi and Wyoming) to impersonate an actual person, usually if it’s for deceptive purposes, with punishments including fines and imprisonment. A US Federal rule prohibits impersonating a business, government agency, or person. In the UK, it is illegal to impersonate a police officer or a solicitor. Denmark has strict impersonation law. Many other countries refer to existing laws against fraud.
Sample Rule Language
Deceptively posing as an actual person, group, or organisation to mislead others about who you are or who you represent is prohibited.
Deceptively posing as an actual person who doesn’t exist to mislead others about who you are or who you represent is prohibited.
Discussion
Discuss this label in the Impersonation forum.
