That Smiling LinkedIn Profile Face Might Be a Computer-generated Fake (npr.org) 26
An anonymous reader shares a report: That chance message launched DiResta and her colleague Josh Goldstein at the Stanford Internet Observatory on an investigation that uncovered more than 1,000 LinkedIn profiles using what appear to be faces created by artificial intelligence. Social media accounts using computer-generated faces have pushed Chinese disinformation; harassed activists; and masqueraded as Americans supporting former President Donald Trump and independent news outlets spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda. NPR found that many of the LinkedIn profiles seem to have a far more mundane purpose: drumming up sales for companies big and small. Accounts like Keenan Ramsey's send messages to potential customers. Anyone who takes the bait gets connected to a real salesperson who tries to close the deal. Think telemarketing for the digital age.
By using fake profiles, companies can cast a wide net online without beefing up their own sales staff or hitting LinkedIn's limits on messages. Demand for online sales leads exploded during the pandemic as it became hard for sales teams to pitch their products in person. More than 70 businesses were listed as employers on these fake profiles. Several told NPR they had hired outside marketers to help with sales. They said they hadn't authorized any use of computer-generated images, however, and many were surprised to learn about them when NPR asked.
By using fake profiles, companies can cast a wide net online without beefing up their own sales staff or hitting LinkedIn's limits on messages. Demand for online sales leads exploded during the pandemic as it became hard for sales teams to pitch their products in person. More than 70 businesses were listed as employers on these fake profiles. Several told NPR they had hired outside marketers to help with sales. They said they hadn't authorized any use of computer-generated images, however, and many were surprised to learn about them when NPR asked.
And In Other News... (Score:2)
... LinkedIn is still a dumpster file of garbage.
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Re: So? (Score:2)
Of course it does everything promised. Let me just connect you with our solutions engineer...
Re: Its easy to get a job now. (Score:2)
Right now, I'd recommend anyone looking for a job to replace their photo with a picture of Zelenskyy. That white middle aged man would do just fine on a resume.
Everything on the internet is a fake (Score:2)
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Linkedin removed some job announces here... (Score:2)
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Re: Pics are tricky in internet (Score:2)
I think the lesson learned there should be ignore all this stupid shit and ignore the Internet. Stop Googling people. Stop connecting with the on Facebook. Don't shop anywhere that asks for an email address. Disconnect yourself from the world of bullshit and you discover there's still a perfectly functioning rational world out there hidden beneath the outrage, fear, and life-management algorithms.
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The dead internet theory becomes more plausible by (Score:1)
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Re: The dead internet theory becomes more plausibl (Score:1)
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It's also a good idea for the rest of us (Score:3)
Because the less scammers know about you, the harder it is for them to take advantage of you.
I wish my employer understood this. Everybody's e-mail addresses contain their real names so it's easy for scammers who find your e-mail address to make you think they're an old forgotten friend or relative.
And going the other way around (guessing e-mail address from real name) is almost certainly how LinkedIn users spam me at work even though I've never posted that e-mail address.
Lesson learned: if your employer asks you to "follow" them on social media, first make sure your e-mail address is randomized.
So... (Score:2)
Practice your fake-face detection skills (Score:2)
Practice here: https://www.whichfaceisreal.co... [whichfaceisreal.com]
With faces generated by GANstyle it's fairly easy to recognize fakes, for the time being.
* Blurry or crazy background. Sometimes weird blobs. Never anything recognizable.
* Fabrics of clothing undefined.
* Mismatched earrings, mismatched left/right eyeglasses. Occasionally mismatched ears. Weird hairstyle around the ears. Sometimes mismatched eye colors.
The faces themselves are very convincing, though.
Obligatory (Score:1)
https://thispersondoesnotexist... [thisperson...texist.com]
Insert Chinese commie cyber BS (Score:2)