Is it illegal...?

Question

Is it illegal to pretend to be somebody else (hu does exist) on the internet and make them out to be someone theyre not (for example gay) and make them seem to be a really disgusting person?

(and just so u know I'm not planning on doing this I just have seen it done in the past)

Answer 1

Yes it is illegal. It is both Identity Theft which is a Felony for which you can be fined and imprisoned and, as you describe the scenario, the Civil Tort Libel for which you can be subjected to punitive damages. It amazes me how many people answer these types of questions with admissions of guilt that can be used against them if/when they end up brought to trial.

Answer 2

So long as it is not for fraudulent reasons, you can pretend to be whoever you want to be unless it is a medical officer - a doctor, or a policeman.

If your intention is to commit fraud, it will always be illegal.

Think of it this way, if you go to a fancy dress party, you can be what you want to be - it is not so much what you have chosen to be but what your intention is. You can dress up as a doctor or a policeman/woman - but the point is do you intend people to think that you are that person/authority or not?

It is intent not pretence that has the priority here.

Answer 3

It is defamatory, as the Sunday Chronicle discovered nearly a century ago to its cost. Before the First World War, a provincial newspaper called the Sunday Chronicle published a story about the scandalous behaviour of English tourists in Dieppe, France. The story said, in part:

“Upon the terrace marches the world, attracted by the motor races—a world immensely pleased with itself, and minded to draw a wealth of inspiration—and, incidentally, of golden cocktails—from any scheme to speed the passing hour …. ‘Whist! There is Artemus Jones with a woman who is not his wife, who must be, you know—the other thing!’ whispers a fair neighbour of mine excitedly into her bosom friend’s ear. Really, is it not surprising how certain of our fellow countrymen behave when they come abroad? Who would suppose, by his goings-on, that he was a churchwarden at Peckham?”

“Artemus Jones” was a fictional character created by the writer to illustrate a point, but a real Artemus Jones, a barrister from North Wales emerged to sue the newspaper for libel. The case became known as E. Hulton & Co. v. Jones (1910).

In court, the Sunday Chronicle tried to say to Jones, “We were not talking about you. We did not mean to refer to you.” But, in English law, libel was (and still is) a tort of strict liability. The court barred this line of defence.

What mattered was not what the Sunday Chronicle intended, but what readers of the Sunday Chronicle who knew Artemus Jones could reasonably conclude after seeing the article. Because of the very unusual character of the name Artemus Jones, the court decided that the newspaper’s readers could conclude that he was the man to whom the newspaper referred.

Answer 4

Well it is sort of like defamation of character, perhaps also a form of harassment in that the action of pretending to be someone else in a negative sense will cause them to feel harassed

Answer 5

So they are pretending to be the guy who is in charge of China? Hu?

Answer 6

This is a form of identity theft and is taken very seriously by most people. I have also seen this done to a few people and all i can say no good can come of it.

Answer 7

Uh...yeah. It's definately illegal. It's called slander...better yet libel. If someone has done this to you, they are legally responsible for thier actions and can be held accountable in a court of law.

Answer 8

Yes

Answer 9

Yes it is called defamation of character and is something you can get sued for and slander. but impersonation is not illegal as long as you don't forge their name on anything!!

Answer 10

yep, definately illegal... could be seen as Defamation of Character