Chamber is concerned about ‘identity theft’ on social media

Several MPs have asked the Minister of Security and Justice about the fact that some internet users pose as someone else on social media. The PVV wants this to be dealt with criminally.

The reason for the parliamentary questions is a broadcast of De Wereld Draait Door, in which a lawyer worries about a fake Twitter account. Several MPs want to know whether there are enough options to combat such fake Twitter accounts, writes web world.

D66 wonders whether criminal prosecution should be possible and SP MP Nine Kooiman has also submitted parliamentary questions to the same effect.

The PVV goes further and wants it to be punishable for social media users to pretend to be someone else. It is unclear whether an exception should be made for parodies. The SP wants to know whether social media can be forced to cooperate ‘in revealing the identity’.

According to lawyer Anke Verhoeven of Solv, such legislation is unnecessary, because action can already be taken against it. Opening a fake Twitter account can be a wrongful act or wrongful processing of personal data. In addition, in some cases it is possible to request the details of a fraudster from a social network, writes they.

Incidentally, social media usually already offers the possibility to communicate that someone is pretending to be someone else. In California, where many internet companies are located, ‘e-impersonation’ has been punished since last year: anyone who pretends to be someone else and thereby causes damage can be fined or even jailed.