Last year Instagram started removing fake follows, comments, and likes from the platform. However, the fight has just got fiercer. Instagram’s parent company, Facebook, has recently filed a lawsuit against a New Zealand-based company that offered these services.
Facebook recently shared a post on its Newsroom website. Jessica Romero, the company’s Director of Platform Enforcement and Litigation, explained that Facebook and Instagram filed a lawsuit against one company and three people. They “operated a service that provided fake likes, views, and followers to Instagram users.”
Romero added that Facebook does whatever it takes to detect and ban inauthentic activity from its platforms. This includes “blocking the creation and use of fake accounts, and using machine learning technology to proactively find and remove inauthentic activity from Instagram.” And apparently, filing a lawsuit is another step towards making Instagram and Facebook more genuine. According to the lawsuit, the New Zealand-based company earned approximately $9.43 million from selling fake likes, comments, and followers on Instagram. By doing this, they violated Instagram’s Terms of Use and Community Guidelines. But, the lawsuit notes that they have helped other Instagram users violate them, too. If Instagram and Facebook win the case, the lawsuit reads that they’re entitled to damages of at least $9.43 million and any other amount proven at trial. [via DPReview]
