Google is deleting fake Google+ accounts

Posted in google

Google has already started deleting fake Google+ accounts to prevent spammers from abusing the new social network. Section 13 of the usage policy, which covers the "common name" rule, means that Google can delete any account when it suspects the account name is not the persons real name.

Spam accounts are nothing new. We've seen this kind of thing before with Facebook and now Twitter. There are thousands of fake accounts, all spewing out spam news stories and links in an attempt to increase traffic to their site. Google have identified this abuse as a weakness of social networking sites and are attempting to keep theirs clean. Good on them.

It's a positive move and an important one if we're to trust the content shared by others. Google wants genuine content to be shared and liked, because it's of quality, and not because a team of spammers are helping to promote it.

Whilst Google have been aggressive in deleting spam Google+ accounts, they have also been swift and fair to reinstate accounts which were caught up by judgement.

Bradley Horowitz (a Google VP) commented..

"We've noticed that many violations of the Google+ common name policy were in fact well-intentioned and inadvertent and for these users our process can be frustrating and disappointing."

In his Google+ post, Horowitz said..

"So we're currently making a number of improvements to this process, specifically regarding how we notify these users that they're not in compliance with Google+ policies and how we communicate the remedies available to them."

As a result of this, Google will still continue to shut down Google+ accounts that are suspicious or spam related. However, these new steps will be taken:

• Google will give users a warning that they must comply with the common name policy and they will even give you a chance to correct your name.
• The signup process will be clearer and the common name rule will be more prominent
• Google+ will be improved to support nicknames, maiden names and known as names

What happens when you're Google+ account is deleted?

Contrary to recent rumours, you will not loose access to Gmail, Google Docs or other Google Services. You will of course be banned from using Google+ in the future. Unless Google considers your re-instatement, your email address associated with Google+ will never be able to access Google+ again.