SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook takes legal action against company over fake reviews

By our News Team | 2022

Business would create fictitious reviews and feedback for its clients in an effort to falsely increase their Customer Feedback Score.

Meta, the company that owns Facebook, has filed a lawsuit in the US state of California over the use of fake reviews on the social media platform. It is targeting one fake review seller who, it claims, had tried to manipulate Facebook’s systems to the benefit its customers.

The company confirmed in a statement that the action is being brought against Chad Taylor Cowan, who has been operating a business known as Customer Feedback Score Solutions, which specialised in provided fake reviews and feedback for businesses, with the intention of artificially increasing their Facebook Customer Feedback Score.

A user of Cowan’s services would be aiming to attract more customers through the fake positive reviews, and also to avoid any enforcement measures that Facebook may take against a business that receives frequent negative feedback. Such measures could include ad restrictions, financial penalties, or the disabling of accounts.

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According to Meta, its action is part of ongoing efforts to protect against and deter e-commerce abuse. Cowan’s actions, it said, were a breach of the social media platform’s terms.

Sought to evade Meta’s penalties for ongoing negative feedback

“Operating as Customer Feedback Score Solutions and using the website cfs.solutions, Cowan provided fake reviews and feedback for businesses to artificially increase the Facebook Customer Feedback Score and evade Meta’s detection and enforcement against misleading ads,” Meta explained.

It said it analysed feedback from users “on an ongoing basis to understand people’s experiences on our technologies. As a part of this work, some people receive surveys after clicking on ads to help understand whether the quality of the product they purchased met their expectations, the shipping was timely, and to learn more about their customer service experience”. 

In this particular case, in exchange for payment, Cowan used a network of fraudulent and hired Facebook user accounts to provide fake customer reviews to artificially increase Customer Feedback Scores, drown out and minimise negative reviews, and avoid Facebook’s enforcement, Meta stated.

“This is also a direct violation of Meta’s Terms, Advertising and Page Policies, as well as California law.”

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    Dr Kin Kariisa

    Group CEO - Next Media

    Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
    With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
    Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

    Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

    Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

    • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
    • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
    • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
    • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.