DEA agent sets up fake Facebook profile --with pix-- in a real woman's name

[thewayne]

The woman in question was swept up in a drug bust, her house was being used by a gang for storage and trafficking, though she didn't get any great proceeds from it. She admitted responsibility, and as she had a very minor role in what went down Federal prosecutors recommended a light sentence and probation. She served several months of weekends in jail along with parole and the parole was eventually discharged.

Then a friend told her that she had some fairly racy pictures on Facebook. The only problem was the woman had never created a Facebook profile.

Enter an agent of the Drug Enforcement Agency. He copied photos from her seized cell phone, including some bikini shots and some shots of her posing on the hood of a BMW, and created a Facebook profile under her name. With it he talked to at least one drug dealer and tried to entire others. Oh, he also posted pix of her child and niece.

All without her permission or knowledge.

Yes, the lawsuits have begun, along with lots of tossing of potatoes of above ambient temperature among government agencies.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrishamby/government-says-federal-agents-can-impersonate-woman-online#2atkrww

Comments

[silveradept]

The things that get done in our names, apparently. Also, the involvement of the children kicks this up immediately to "you will be dismissed, Agent, with prejudice and without benefits." add the only just end.

[thewayne.livejournal.com]

I think you're going to see lots of agents and supervisors rubbing their chin thoughtfully and wondering if they can get away with it briefly. One argument being put forth is that the woman has creator copyright on the images and the agent violated that copyright by distributing them without her knowledge or consent.

[silveradept]

That would be a possibility. Still, to the best of my knowledge, impersonating an actual person without their consent is also illegal, so the agent should still be in very hot water about this.

Also, the agent gets caught because other people are observant about a Facebook profile. How many more agents are looking at this and deciding against it because they won't actually be able to pull it off since too many other people will notice?