U.K. Policeman Uses Fake Facebook Profiles to Stalk 'X-Factor' Fan

When keeping it real goes wrong.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Facebook and Twitter are full of "troll" accounts, but not many of them are run by police officers. Such is the case, however, with a policeman from the U.K. who created fake Facebook accounts to virtually attack a woman who made negative comments about a contestant on X-Factor

After reading some disparaging Facebook comments Nicola Brookes wrote about a contestant on the musical game, the policeman decided to create fake Facebook accounts to spread slanderous information about Brookes. Some of the comments painted her as a drug user, prostitute, and child abuser.

Eventually Brookes' home address was published on Facebook by a fake account and she decided it was time for the online abuse to stop. She won a High Court Judgment back in June which required the names, e-mails, and IP addresses of the fake Brookes accounts. The court order lead to the arrest of the police officer. The Guardian received a statement from the West Midlands police force in regards to the policeman troll:

"The investigation is ongoing by Sussex police, and the allegations do not relate to use of police systems. The officer has not been suspended. The officer is not a frontline officer".

The U.K. government has yet to pass a proposed defamation bill. If the bill passes sites would be required to reveal the IP addresses and names of so-called trolls at a much faster rate. I suggest troll offenders pick up an hobby because online bullying is not being taken lightly.

[viaPC World]

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