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Featured Article:

FaceBook Wins $873 Million Judgement Against Spammer

by , 5:40 PM EST, November 25th, 2008

FaceBook has won a US$873 million judgement against a Canadian spammer who used a phishing techniques and other methods to gain control of FaceBook user accounts that then spammed other members. Max Kelly, FaceBook's Director of Security, made the announcement on the FaceBook blog, saying his company had successfully sued the spammer under the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act (CAN-SPAM).

Adam Guerbuez of Montreal and his company Atlantis Blue Capital are the particular spammers in question, though FaceBook doesn't expect to be able to actually collect much, if any of the judgement.

Mr. Kelly wrote, "Does Facebook expect to quickly collect $873 million and share the proceeds in some way with our users? Alas, no. It's unlikely that Geurbez and Atlantis Blue Capital could ever honor the judgment rendered against them (though we will certainly collect everything we can). But we are confident that this award represents a powerful deterrent to anyone and everyone who would seek to abuse Facebook and its users."

Whether it will serve as a deterrent for future spammers remains to be seen. For instance, Tim Beyers at Motley Fool reminded us that MySpace earned a judgement of $230 million against a spammer earlier in 2008, but spam can still be found on MySpace.

Observer Comments

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Close Name:Guest
Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:29 pm Subject:

YOU SPELLED "JUDGMENT" WRONG.


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Close Name:Guest
Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:33 pm Subject:

it is not an incorrect spelling. judgEment is an especially british variant.


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Close Name:Guest
Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:33 pm Subject:

It can be spelled either way.


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Close Name:mahuti -   TMO Staff Posts: 377 Joined: 09 Jan 2003
Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:35 pm Subject: fail

"Spelling Fail" fail.


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Close Name:Guest
Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:36 pm Subject:

no he didn't - you can spell it both ways. Judgement is the "British" way. Check dictionary.com


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Close Name:Guest
Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:37 pm Subject: either spelling is correct... the Brits are 'proper' you kno

judgment (American English) or judgement (British English)


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Close Name:Guest
Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:39 pm Subject: Please get a life

I'm so glad to see english professors are reading this article


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Close Name:Guest
Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:41 pm Subject:

Neither spelling is correct.


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Close Name:Guest
Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:43 pm Subject:

So this douche gets sentanced to bankruptcy for shoving his spam in front of all the 'legal' spam I get each day? Where do they even come up with these numbers.


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Close Name:Guest
Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:45 pm Subject: Ahaha

ROFL @ , "I Glad To See English Professors Are Reading Thse Articles."

It Really Doesn't Matter How They Spelled It , You Still Know Exactly What They Meant.

Its Just A Typo , Don't Get Your Panties In A Bunch.


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Close Name:Guest
Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:49 pm Subject:

I HAVE ALWAYS SPELLED IT "JUDGEMENT"!!! AND I'M FROM THE US!!! DON'T TELL ME I'M BRITISH!!!

Wait...I can feel a cheesy british accent impression coming on...

Cheerio,

MP


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Close Name:Guest
Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:53 pm Subject: I thought this was the MAC observer

Should I switch to http://www.macworld.com/news.html for news related to Apple and their products?

They seem to have more than TMO the past 6 months anyways. Sorry, but I think TMO has run dry on good Mac news.


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Close Name:Guest
Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:55 pm Subject:

Who cares about the spelling, those canadian smucks took control of my facebook for nearly a week. Congrats to facebook.


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Close Name:Guest
Tue Nov 25, 2008 8:00 pm Subject: me

they were not canadian but americans pretending to be from a better place...like when yanks wear a canadian flag when they travel to avoid being shot


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Close Name:Guest
Tue Nov 25, 2008 8:01 pm Subject: What?!

Are you serious? Get a life. It is understood by all that even the best among us is falls guilty to an occasional typo.


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Close Name:Guest
Tue Nov 25, 2008 8:53 pm Subject: judgement ... sentanced ... who cares ...

Never heard of FaceBook. Can't be that important. Did you see that game Monday night? NO cleaned up on GB!!!

Some of you need to get a life ... or run your mouth in a bar like you do here and get your FaceBook punched in. Good one ... I like it!


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Close Name:Guest
Tue Nov 25, 2008 9:44 pm Subject: Spelling

Who spelt it, dealt it.


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Close Name:Guest
Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:06 pm Subject: Facebook

I hope you're joking that you've never heard of Facebook....

What I wonder is how this is directly related to the Mac....Still interesting though.


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Close Name:arpierson Posts: 1 Joined: 27 Oct 2008
Wed Nov 26, 2008 12:24 am Subject: Facebook

Can someone explain to me how Facebook winning a lawsuit against spammers has anything to do with observing the Mac?


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Close Name:iJack Posts: 313 Joined: 13 Jun 2001
Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:02 am Subject:

Quote
Guest wrote:
Should I switch to http://www.macworld.com/news.html for news related to Apple and their products?

They seem to have more than TMO the past 6 months anyways. Sorry, but I think TMO has run dry on good Mac news.

You got that right!


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Close Name:tbone1 -   TMO Staff Posts: 3981 Joined: 13 Jul 2001
Wed Nov 26, 2008 9:47 am Subject:

Quote
Guest wrote:
YOU SPELLED "JUDGMENT" WRONG.


No, that is an accepted spelling. And please upgrade from VMS.


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Close Name:Sir Harry Flashman Posts: 792 Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Wed Nov 26, 2008 9:47 am Subject: Looks better

Quote
Guest wrote:
Should I switch to http://www.macworld.com/news.html for news related to Apple and their products?

They seem to have more than TMO the past 6 months anyways. Sorry, but I think TMO has run dry on good Mac news.


I like the look of The MacObserver more than MacWorld, so this is my first stop when I need to take a break from work. Not that MacWorld is bad looking and I do visit them, but this one is better. As to news coverage, does MacWorld have deeper pockets, can they afford more "reporters" that can dig out stories in a timely manner? I don't know, I am just thinking aloud and I just thought that it is time for my second cup of coffee.

Chat with you all later.


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Close Name:Guest
Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:49 pm Subject:

Quote
arpierson wrote:
Can someone explain to me how Facebook winning a lawsuit against spammers has anything to do with observing the Mac?


Yes. Spamming is a scourge that plagues the entire world of the Internet and computing, even Macs. Thus, any legal action of this kind, impacting and impeding the action of spammers in general, is newsworthy for a tech-related blog.


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Close Name:Guest
Sat Nov 29, 2008 11:39 pm Subject:

and yours was the only , one and only, worthwhile comment
MAC OBSERVER! who gives a F*** about facebook.


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