今日話題
昨天， 外媒一篇挺魔幻的報導， 讓不少人都炸了……
和這些社交媒體打交道的多了， 各種貓膩和套路也見怪不怪了。 “僵屍粉”“水軍”一類的詞，
但是……這些貓膩和套路， 你以為只有中國才有嗎？
昨天， 美國大名鼎鼎的《紐約時報》就發表了一篇文章， 標題和頁面都還挺驚悚……
（僵屍）粉工廠(via The New York Times)
看著上圖這些被割裂的臉， 一種迷之毛骨悚然感不由湧上心頭……
紐約時報這篇文章呢， 就揭露了一個本以為不會出現在美國的行業——賣僵屍粉。
這家賣僵屍粉的公司名叫Devumi：
Devumi網站截圖
雖然在賣僵屍粉， 但這家網站絲毫不扭捏， 直接明碼標價， 要啥粉有啥粉：
Twitter粉絲， 12美元起賣。 最少買500個， 最多可買25萬個。
Twitter的點贊和轉發， 9美元起賣。 規格從“20贊+100轉發”到“1萬贊+1萬轉發”都有。
Youtube的點擊量， 17美元起賣。 2000-500萬的點擊量都可以選擇。
賣的還不僅是Twitter和Youtube, 人家的服務涵蓋了好幾個熱門網站：
人家還再三跟你保證：我們家的僵屍粉都乖乖噠， 會及時來到你懷裡， 性情溫和好養不粘人， 絕不洩露你的隱私， 價格也很公道……
那麼，這家“僵屍粉工廠”的買賣做得咋樣呢？
根據它們網站的說法，來買粉的人還是很多的……
"Devumi has helped over 200,000 businesses, celebrities, musicians, YouTubers and other pros gain more exposure and make a big impact to their audience," according to its website. → 過去兩年裡，有20多萬的商人/明星/音樂家/播主等來買過粉
For instance, for less than $4,000, actor Ryan Hurst, a star of the television series “Sons of Anarchy,” bought a total of 750,000 followers in the past two years, about three-quarters of his current count. → 《混亂之子》的演員哈斯特，就買了75萬的粉！占了他總粉數的3/4！而且只花了不到4000塊！
Devumi: The Social Media Company Selling 'Fake' Followers to Stars, Politicians (via thefashionlaw.com)
等等……說好的“不洩露隱私”呢……確定上面這個名叫哈斯特的演員不會打你麼？！
按理來說，“賣粉”這種事情應該算不上多新鮮。畢竟互聯網+注意力經濟的時代，花錢買關注買吆喝也很常見嘛。再不濟，若是真正的吆喝買不到，買點僵屍粉來撐撐場面也是好的。
雖然表演起來很尷尬，但能營造出一種“我似乎很紅”的效果，那不也挺好麼~
但是，這家“僵屍粉工廠”本身，實在是充滿了各種詭異的槽點……
比方說，工廠的創始人Calas，就是一個讓人無語的存在：
In speaking to the Times, Devumi’s founder, German Calas, 27, denied that his company sells fake followers.
While little is known about Calas, the Times uncovered an online resume in which Calas also claims to have graduated from Princeton University, “at about the age of 10,” per the Time.
His online resume claims he received a PhD in computer science from MIT in 2002, when he would have beenjust 12 years old.
Devumi: The Social Media Company Selling 'Fake' Followers to Stars, Politicians
從上面這幾段裡咱們能得出這些槽點：
1、創始人只有27歲
（90後？！年……年輕有為啊……）
2、創始人否認自己在賣僵屍粉
（大兄弟……你的公司網站首頁就明碼標價了，你在這裝什麼無辜？）
3、創始人號稱自己10歲那年大學畢業
（什……什麼？！）
4、創始人的簡歷顯示，他2002年獲得了電腦科學的PhD學位，還是麻省理工的
（2002年，當時他只有12歲吧……就從名校博！士！畢！業！了！）
這……這是怎樣一個神奇的人類啊……
不僅如此，他開的這家僵屍粉工廠，所在地也十分詭異……
As for, Devumi, the company lists its address as being located on Manhattan's Seventh Avenue, when in reality, its headquarters is a small office suite above a Mexican restaurant in West Palm Beach, the Times found. → 公司號稱位於曼哈頓第七大道，但實際上，它的“總部”是西棕櫚灘一家墨西哥餐館上面的小辦公室。
Devumi: The Social Media Company Selling 'Fake' Followers to Stars, Politicians
得了，這家公司從創始人到公司地址再到經營“業務”，真是處處透著一股子魔性啊……
僵屍就算了，居然還吃人？！好吧……既然這家僵屍粉工廠的創始人12歲就在麻省理工讀完博士了，我也不敢相信它們網站上所謂“兩年客戶20萬人”的鬼話了。
要是就說點假話吹吹牛，倒也不至於這麼引起眾怒。
只是，這家工廠製造僵屍粉還不算。它的很多僵屍粉，都是用活人來造的……
Devumi, a company selling social media followers to users hoping to increase their influence (or manufacture its appearance), seemed to be using bots with information, pictures and biographies taken from real users. → 這家公司製造僵屍粉時，似乎會直接盜用真實使用者的個人資訊和圖片等。
Faked: The Headquarters. The Followers. The Influence? (via The New York Times)
啥意思呢？
就是說，假如你的網名叫Lily，頭像是自己的自拍。那麼這家公司製造了10個僵屍粉，它們很有可能全叫Lily，並且也有著和你那張自拍一模一樣的頭像……
——活生生就克隆出了10個你啊！
左邊是真實的活人用戶，右邊是“吃”了活人的僵屍粉
這些“僵屍”們不僅盜用了你的資訊，它們可能還會盜用你發過的動態……嗯，就為了長得和你像一點，讓它自己看上去更像個真實的活人……
這事兒還不是最近才有的。
早在去年5月，美國的聯邦通信委員會(FCC)就被僵屍粉轟炸過。
當時，一大批僵屍粉把活人給“吃”了，偽裝成活人發了各種評論……
“The unprecedented regulatory power the Obama Administration imposed on the internet is smothering innovation, damaging the American economy and obstructing job creation,” read thousands of identical comments posted this week, seemingly by different concerned individuals. →成千上萬的人評論留言，內容幾乎是同一句
By midday Tuesday, the thread was inundated with versions of the comment. A search of the duplicated text found more than 58,000 results as of press time, with 17,000 of those posted in the last 24 hours alone. → 留言的數量極高，24小時17000條
The comments seem to be posted by different, real people, with addresses attached. But people contacted by The Verge said they did not write the comments and have no idea where the posts came from. → 但是，這些帳號的主人們紛紛站出來說，他們沒有留過這樣的言
“That doesn’t even sound like verbiage I would use,” says Nancy Colombo of Connecticut, whose name and address appeared alongside the comment. → “這留言 不是我寫的，這語氣措辭和我完全不一樣啊！”
“I have no idea where that came from,” says Lynn Vesely, whose Indiana address also appeared, and who was surprised to hear about the comment. → “我留言了？沒有啊！我都不知道這留言咋來的！”
Anti-net neutrality spammers are impersonating real people to flood FCC comments (via The Verge)
嗯。盜用你的身份，以你的名義發表觀點。（感覺盜用你的名義幹各種壞事也不遠了……這鍋誰敢背 ）
果然，這些僵屍粉若是在一些大事件裡刷刷存在感——比如16年的美國總統大選——那就細思恐極了……
The use of automated bots and accounts on sites such as Facebook and Twitter have been thrust into the public consciousness in recent months as major social media sites have confirmed that such tools were deployed during the 2016 Presidential election, and after bots were used for online public commenting periods, and other events.
New York’s attorney general is investigating a company that sells fake followers on social media (via The Verge)
原來水這麼深啊……
面對這麼妖孽的事情，這回，政府方面總算是要做點什麼了。
紐約的總檢察長很快表示，要查一查那家詭異的“僵屍粉工廠”：
“假冒與欺騙都是違反紐約法律的！這家公司顯然在盜用真實使用者的資訊製作僵屍粉，我們正對它展開調查。”
而與此同時，有意思的是，一批在這家僵屍粉工廠買過粉的“大V”們，也被揭露了出來……
其中包括英國一枚電視廚師，就是在電視上教你做飯的那種：
Paul Hollywood: British TV chef
The investigation showed Devumi-managed bots following Paul Hollywood's official Twitter profile. Shortly after the paper emailed him to ask questions, his account was deleted.
“僵屍粉工廠”曝光之後，人家直接刪號了。
以及給CNN寫政治評論的一枚大佬：
Hilary Rosen: political commentator
The CNN contributor has paid for over 500,000 Twitter followers - although most have been deleted. She said it was "an experiment I did several years ago to see how it worked".
買了50萬粉，又把這些粉幾乎刪光了。人家號稱“我是幾年前買的，就是想實驗一下，看這個僵屍粉買賣是怎麼運轉的~”
好吧，刪光50萬個粉……這不會是要一個一個地手動刪掉吧……
文：lanlan
圖：外媒、網路
題圖：NYT
那麼，這家“僵屍粉工廠”的買賣做得咋樣呢？
根據它們網站的說法，來買粉的人還是很多的……
"Devumi has helped over 200,000 businesses, celebrities, musicians, YouTubers and other pros gain more exposure and make a big impact to their audience," according to its website. → 過去兩年裡，有20多萬的商人/明星/音樂家/播主等來買過粉
For instance, for less than $4,000, actor Ryan Hurst, a star of the television series “Sons of Anarchy,” bought a total of 750,000 followers in the past two years, about three-quarters of his current count. → 《混亂之子》的演員哈斯特，就買了75萬的粉！占了他總粉數的3/4！而且只花了不到4000塊！
Devumi: The Social Media Company Selling 'Fake' Followers to Stars, Politicians (via thefashionlaw.com)
等等……說好的“不洩露隱私”呢……確定上面這個名叫哈斯特的演員不會打你麼？！
按理來說，“賣粉”這種事情應該算不上多新鮮。畢竟互聯網+注意力經濟的時代，花錢買關注買吆喝也很常見嘛。再不濟，若是真正的吆喝買不到，買點僵屍粉來撐撐場面也是好的。
雖然表演起來很尷尬，但能營造出一種“我似乎很紅”的效果，那不也挺好麼~
但是，這家“僵屍粉工廠”本身，實在是充滿了各種詭異的槽點……
比方說，工廠的創始人Calas，就是一個讓人無語的存在：
In speaking to the Times, Devumi’s founder, German Calas, 27, denied that his company sells fake followers.
While little is known about Calas, the Times uncovered an online resume in which Calas also claims to have graduated from Princeton University, “at about the age of 10,” per the Time.
His online resume claims he received a PhD in computer science from MIT in 2002, when he would have beenjust 12 years old.
Devumi: The Social Media Company Selling 'Fake' Followers to Stars, Politicians
從上面這幾段裡咱們能得出這些槽點：
1、創始人只有27歲
（90後？！年……年輕有為啊……）
2、創始人否認自己在賣僵屍粉
（大兄弟……你的公司網站首頁就明碼標價了，你在這裝什麼無辜？）
3、創始人號稱自己10歲那年大學畢業
（什……什麼？！）
4、創始人的簡歷顯示，他2002年獲得了電腦科學的PhD學位，還是麻省理工的
（2002年，當時他只有12歲吧……就從名校博！士！畢！業！了！）
這……這是怎樣一個神奇的人類啊……
不僅如此，他開的這家僵屍粉工廠，所在地也十分詭異……
As for, Devumi, the company lists its address as being located on Manhattan's Seventh Avenue, when in reality, its headquarters is a small office suite above a Mexican restaurant in West Palm Beach, the Times found. → 公司號稱位於曼哈頓第七大道，但實際上，它的“總部”是西棕櫚灘一家墨西哥餐館上面的小辦公室。
Devumi: The Social Media Company Selling 'Fake' Followers to Stars, Politicians
得了，這家公司從創始人到公司地址再到經營“業務”，真是處處透著一股子魔性啊……
僵屍就算了，居然還吃人？！好吧……既然這家僵屍粉工廠的創始人12歲就在麻省理工讀完博士了，我也不敢相信它們網站上所謂“兩年客戶20萬人”的鬼話了。
要是就說點假話吹吹牛，倒也不至於這麼引起眾怒。
只是，這家工廠製造僵屍粉還不算。它的很多僵屍粉，都是用活人來造的……
Devumi, a company selling social media followers to users hoping to increase their influence (or manufacture its appearance), seemed to be using bots with information, pictures and biographies taken from real users. → 這家公司製造僵屍粉時，似乎會直接盜用真實使用者的個人資訊和圖片等。
Faked: The Headquarters. The Followers. The Influence? (via The New York Times)
啥意思呢？
就是說，假如你的網名叫Lily，頭像是自己的自拍。那麼這家公司製造了10個僵屍粉，它們很有可能全叫Lily，並且也有著和你那張自拍一模一樣的頭像……
——活生生就克隆出了10個你啊！
左邊是真實的活人用戶，右邊是“吃”了活人的僵屍粉
這些“僵屍”們不僅盜用了你的資訊，它們可能還會盜用你發過的動態……嗯，就為了長得和你像一點，讓它自己看上去更像個真實的活人……
這事兒還不是最近才有的。
早在去年5月，美國的聯邦通信委員會(FCC)就被僵屍粉轟炸過。
當時，一大批僵屍粉把活人給“吃”了，偽裝成活人發了各種評論……
“The unprecedented regulatory power the Obama Administration imposed on the internet is smothering innovation, damaging the American economy and obstructing job creation,” read thousands of identical comments posted this week, seemingly by different concerned individuals. →成千上萬的人評論留言，內容幾乎是同一句
By midday Tuesday, the thread was inundated with versions of the comment. A search of the duplicated text found more than 58,000 results as of press time, with 17,000 of those posted in the last 24 hours alone. → 留言的數量極高，24小時17000條
The comments seem to be posted by different, real people, with addresses attached. But people contacted by The Verge said they did not write the comments and have no idea where the posts came from. → 但是，這些帳號的主人們紛紛站出來說，他們沒有留過這樣的言
“That doesn’t even sound like verbiage I would use,” says Nancy Colombo of Connecticut, whose name and address appeared alongside the comment. → “這留言 不是我寫的，這語氣措辭和我完全不一樣啊！”
“I have no idea where that came from,” says Lynn Vesely, whose Indiana address also appeared, and who was surprised to hear about the comment. → “我留言了？沒有啊！我都不知道這留言咋來的！”
Anti-net neutrality spammers are impersonating real people to flood FCC comments (via The Verge)
嗯。盜用你的身份，以你的名義發表觀點。（感覺盜用你的名義幹各種壞事也不遠了……這鍋誰敢背 ）
果然，這些僵屍粉若是在一些大事件裡刷刷存在感——比如16年的美國總統大選——那就細思恐極了……
The use of automated bots and accounts on sites such as Facebook and Twitter have been thrust into the public consciousness in recent months as major social media sites have confirmed that such tools were deployed during the 2016 Presidential election, and after bots were used for online public commenting periods, and other events.
New York’s attorney general is investigating a company that sells fake followers on social media (via The Verge)
原來水這麼深啊……
面對這麼妖孽的事情，這回，政府方面總算是要做點什麼了。
紐約的總檢察長很快表示，要查一查那家詭異的“僵屍粉工廠”：
“假冒與欺騙都是違反紐約法律的！這家公司顯然在盜用真實使用者的資訊製作僵屍粉，我們正對它展開調查。”
而與此同時，有意思的是，一批在這家僵屍粉工廠買過粉的“大V”們，也被揭露了出來……
其中包括英國一枚電視廚師，就是在電視上教你做飯的那種：
Paul Hollywood: British TV chef
The investigation showed Devumi-managed bots following Paul Hollywood's official Twitter profile. Shortly after the paper emailed him to ask questions, his account was deleted.
“僵屍粉工廠”曝光之後，人家直接刪號了。
以及給CNN寫政治評論的一枚大佬：
Hilary Rosen: political commentator
The CNN contributor has paid for over 500,000 Twitter followers - although most have been deleted. She said it was "an experiment I did several years ago to see how it worked".
買了50萬粉，又把這些粉幾乎刪光了。人家號稱“我是幾年前買的，就是想實驗一下，看這個僵屍粉買賣是怎麼運轉的~”
好吧，刪光50萬個粉……這不會是要一個一個地手動刪掉吧……
文：lanlan
圖：外媒、網路
題圖：NYT