14 DAY TRIAL // Facebook has launched a new tool for three-quarters of its worldwide userbase, which notifies them when someone has registered another profile and is trying to impersonate them.
As Mashable reports, citing a source inside the company, the tool has not yet been officially released, but it looks like a sure thing at the moment.
The anti-impersonation tool works by scanning profiles using an automatic process, detecting accounts with similar names and profile photos.
Users can report other people impersonating them
If the tool finds any matches, the profile deemed to be authentic will be prompted to verify if the second account is trying to impersonate them or if it's all a big coincidence.
Once a profile is flagged as an impersonator, it will reach Facebook's staff, who will have to review it as well.
Facebook's Head of Global Safety Antigone Davis has confirmed that the tool entered testing last November, is active on 75% of all profiles, and that the social network will continue to make it available to more and more users each day.
Facebook is serious about curbing online abuse
The exec has justified the creation of this tool as part of the company's agenda to cut down online abuse, on which the company has been cracking down over the last few months.
With certain countries around the world where women are considered second-class citizens and they can be jailed or even executed for the things they say in real life, let alone cyber-space, the feature is considered a must-have for human rights protection organizations.
Besides the anti-impersonation tool, Mashable also reports that the company is working on a photo checkup utility as well, which will help users review the privacy settings of their published or soon-to-be published photos.
Additionally, new image reporting options will make it easier for users to report nude photos in which they are depicted, either uploaded by a former life partner or by unknown users.
