Did you write that? Or was it your web impersonator?
Art by CHUAN ZUI
By MOHD HAFIZ NOOR SHAMS
What would you do if you found an online comment made in your name that was never written by you?
I’ve maintained a blog for six years now and frequently visit other blogs too, leaving comments as I go. I’d like to think that I have established an identity in the Malaysian blogosphere. For the past few months however, this identity is under the threat of impersonation. If there are pressing issues that the blogosphere faces, impersonation is one of few issues that requires urgent attention.
Screenshot 1: While I have begun using my real name on the blogosphere for almost a year now, I do use the pseudonym “__earth” every now and then to comment on other blogs. This screenshot illustrates an instance of somebody impersonating me to make a comment.
Impersonation does not occur exclusively in the blogosphere. In the world where pen and paper still holds great relevance, it is easy to assume somebody else’s identity. A stranger could subtly imitate signatures when signing off articles without a person’s knowledge. If the stranger intended to damage a victim’s reputation, the content could be as provocative as possible, such as simply touching on issues of race and religion in our potentially volatile Malaysian society.
In the blogosphere, the same act could be done just as easy, if not easier. I have found my identity being associated with a number of provocative and inflammatory comments that were not mine. Unfortunately, I am not the only such victim in the blogosphere. A number of bloggers have also experienced the same fate, such as John Lee, Bob Kee and Rajan Rishyakaran. From time to time, the famous Jeff Ooi has himself had the honour of being impersonated too.
Screenshot 2: Another case of an impersonation. Contrast it with Screenshot 1.
Some of these cases of impersonation would be amusing if they were not malicious. There have been comments that claim I have embraced Christianity while attacking Islam irrationally. Another one gives the impression that I support the creation of an Islamic state while yet another claims that I have forsaken my Malaysian citizenship in favour of a U.S. one. Such instances of impersonation have been found at Ktemoc Konsiders and Kadir Jasin’s blog. The author of Ktemoc Konsiders has been very cooperative in deleting all such impostrous comments whenever I alert him of them.
Detecting an impersonation can be easy if you keep track of relevant trends. In my case, the impersonator(s) are keen in linking the relevant comments with sites such as Jihad Watch and Secular Islam. While this is not a foolproof method, it sometimes helps in identifying impersonations. At other times, the impersonators audaciously use my real name and link it to my blog to strengthen the impression that I wrote the provocative comments. Lately, hybrid names have emerged by taking the first name of a blogger and the last name of another blogger or a public personality.
Screenshot 3: A fellow blogger and I were impersonated to sow discord within the blogosphere.
Due to such impersonations, I have received several emails protesting against the comments that I purportedly made. I take the pain of explaining carefully what actually happened to clear my name.
As a result, I have begun to alert the persons concerned whenever I suspect an impersonation in the hope that they too would do the same for me. Clarifying matters with the blog owners personally has proven the most effective method. On top of that, I am refraining from commenting at various blogs, preferring email exchange instead where identity could then be strictly authenticated.
I once contemplated of making a police report after losing my temper when reading many of these comments. Alas, the furthest I have gone was an email exchange with TMNet about the possibility of tracking the impersonators. TMNet replied to my request saying that while it would be possible, they would first require the police to be involved. With a busy working schedule, I decided to let it go and started to ignore it, perhaps unwisely.
Screenshot 4: The more malicious comments made by using my real name.
The recent development which involves the arrest of bloggers for something they did not commit has reignited my concern on the matter. The ominous idea that somebody might lodge a police report against me for inciting hatred over a comment I did not write is suddenly a very real possibility. What’s worse is that I am not alone in this.
As socio-political blogs gain increasing prominence in the public sphere in the face of a much-expected general election soon, it is safe to assume that this kind of impersonation will only become more rampant. The proposed formation of a cyber trooper squad might further increase that possibility. Impersonation could then be a tool for the squad to discredit and defame vocal socio-political bloggers that disagree with many policies in Malaysia.
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MOHD HAFIZ NOOR SHAMS is a contributing writer for theCICAK.
Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams is an economist-wannabe. He is a couch potato with over-sized economics textbooks in his hands. Visit his site.
CHUAN ZUI is a graphic artist for theCICAK.
Zui is almost an Otaku but hates big-chested anime characters. He is a twisted weirdo because of his islander kiasuness, a result of living his early childhood in Singapore. Zui is an artist of few words. Visit his site.
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Comment of the week
I defend my right as a Malaysian to talk about anything that concerns Malaysia.
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What a shame. Yet another reason I don’t read blog comments as much anymore.
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I’m just amazed that someone has that much free time. Actually, I don’t know which I’d be more amazed by, that someone would have so much free time or that someone might actually have been paid to do this.
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Which is why people have to register and login to view my friends and I’s joint blog/online magazine/forum.
However security obviously has an effect on convenience, thus we solve this by displaying lazy commenters as “guest”~
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hey guys - we at thecicak been debating amongst ourselves if we should make people register accounts to post comments. potentially even allow ppl to upload profile pics etc…. do u think this helps generate healthier discussion, or it doesn’t help at all? pros? cons? would love to hear your thoughts.
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Another reason why I love my gated online community..hahaha!
I was on the receiving end of this identity chameleon types not too long ago while discussing religion and homosexuality. I would think the name Aput here in Malaysia is definitely uncommon, so when the guy impersonating me started using ‘fake Aput’ as his ID, I pretty much understood where this was going.
I would think registration would be necessary to make people own up to what they do, which is why I actually supported the notion of blog registration when the government suggested it.
The whole ’sticks and stones may break my bones but words don’t hurt’ ideology is a myth, as we all have seen countless times right here in our very own country. Words can make people suicidal, and can even lead to defamation suits and unwarranted detainments.
On the other hand, should it be the government’s responsibility to monitor the people in this way? Or should websites such as this one provide the initiative to not allow all those 50+ crap comments in the Negarakuku post…?
In the end, I’m still for the notion that people should say what they want, but I would also like them to be held responsible for whatever they write/say.
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hahaha, looks like I’ll have to use my real ID from now on.
btw for a site like thecicak.com, I think’s it’s best if people have to register before posting.
Take this post for example, it’s too easy to impersonate somebody here.
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I wouldn’t mind registering for Cicak. Malaysia Today has been requiring that for some time liao.
The Screenshot #4 of that tag board is pretty funny…pigs are pink, not yellow, and why would a libertarian humanist be calling for extermination of all Chinese? Actually, correction - it *would* be funny if it wasn’t endangering a real person.
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The guy has balls man…he posted a comment on theCicak itself just a few days ago! Check out the 2nd comment on this article. http://thecicak.com/?p=283
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he’s a stupid troll.
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I’ve been looking at this tool here :
http://wikiscanner.virgil.gr/
and also at this blog entry :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2007/08/wikipedia_edits.html
I wonder if this could be used to trace the impersonators which I strongly suspect may be from the same source.
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The impersonator strikes again
http://www.suarakeadilan.com/isi/2007/08/17/anwar-ada-bukti-cukup-untuk-saman-khairy/
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And again ..
http://www.bobjots.org/2007/08/holy_smokin_jesus_controversy.php#comment-2105
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Salaam.
You love calling people “impersonator” which is an ad hominem as it is a personal sttack to discredit your enemies. Do you not know that there are many people who have similar names like “Julius Paul” or “Bob K” or “Hafiz Noor Shams”?
I know of at least three people named “Bob K” and so should TheCicak ban every “Bob K” from commenting here, except the one who is a Keadilan supporter?
So, stop defaming other people by calling them “impersonators”.
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Easy… If your integrity as a blogger is at stake here, make a police report so that they can trace the perpetrator and apprehend the culprit….
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I’m sure there are plenty of “Bob K”s around but when one starts posting as “Bob K” and linking the name or profile to my blog, then its clear cut impersonation, Mr “Abdullah Abdullah”.
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Comment published by Bob K on 7 September 2007:
No, it is NOT impersonation at all. You are cannot be a judge as you are a biased man (who has a bias towards PAS due to your PKR association - yes, we all know Keadilan is a stooge of PAS which is why DAP pulled out of BA).
Also, wWhy are you defaming me by using me name Abdullah Abdullah in quotes (”) ? This also shows your bias and your hostility!
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Considering the amount of effort put into defaming my character online, I’d definitely be hostile.
http://www.bobjots.org/2007/10/pathological_liar_strikes_agai.php
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Good grief, such comments ! Propagation of religion is allowed, yes, but not to such an extent that it hurts others.
And I have had the experience of such impersonators who actually comment on my blog or PM me with these messages. It’s a question of discernment : I don’t respond.
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The question I want to post is, did DPM is involve in Atlantuya’s murder? Why want to charge RPK for sedition when, what he stated was long suspected and known to be rumoured around the country?
Second Question:
Why UMNO is such a bloody hypocrite when comes to the royal monarcy? Why charge YB Karpal when what he pointed out was merely from a legal point of view on the matter pertaining to the State and Sultan’s functions and authority? Speaking of the degree of seriousness in comparison what Mr. Karpal did, remember what the BN did in Perlis and Terengganu, where UMNO actually goes head-on and challenge the Sultan and Agung’s preferred choice. If charges of sedition, ISA and what have you then, please charge PM, former MB of T’gganu amd Perlis before you charge Mr.Karpal. BN tak ada otak, Tak Malu, betul corupted!
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