Privacy Commission Invites Facebook to Talk About Those Fake Accounts

Several days ago, social media was flooded with worried Facebook users sharing suspicious accounts bearing the same names. Now, the Philippine National Privacy Commission (NPC) has invited the platform to meet regarding the matter.

In a statement released earlier today, NPC privacy commissioner Raymund Liboro said that the agency has invited Facebook Philippines to a meeting on June 16, 2020 to discuss and shed further light on the issue of fake accounts. The official added that it is in close coordination with separate government agencies regarding the matter, too, and that an investigation is already ongoing.

“The National Privacy Commission has invited Facebook Philippines for a meeting on Tuesday, 16 June 2020, to seek more information regarding the numerous reports of impostor Facebook accounts,” Liboro’s statement reads.

“The Commission is currently coordinating with other government agencies while conducting a separate investigation [on] this matter,” the official added, saying the impostor accounts have caused a “privacy panic,” and that the agency will continue to inform the public on the matter.

In a statement released by Facebook several days ago, the social media giant acknowledged it had received reports of “suspicious activity” on its platform, and encouraged users to continue bringing suspected impostor accounts to the company’s attention.

“We understand the concerns raised by our community in the Philippines,” a Facebook representative told Esquire Philippines. “We're investigating reports of suspicious activity on our platform and taking action on any accounts that we find to be in violation of our policies. We encourage people to continue reporting any accounts they believe may be inauthentic.”

Did you come across any fake accounts bearing your name?