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Trending: Fake Celebrity Accounts

Fake Celebrity Accounts

21/04/2017 GMT

BBC World Service - Trending, Fake Celebrity Accounts

What is behind the disturbing rise of fake celebrity accounts targeting minors?

What is behind the disturbing rise of fake celebrity accounts targeting minors? And, how secure are smartphone apps.

We examine the disturbing rise of fake celebrity social media accounts targeting minors. This comes in the wake of a case currently going through the courts in Australia, where a man who allegedly impersonated Justin Bieber online has more than 900 charges of child sex offences against him. We look in to what is behind the rise in these fake accounts, as well as talk to parents of children who have been targeted, and law enforcement professionals who have expressed concern.

Also, we went to Finland to find out more about Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf’s politically charged performance art.

Producer: Kayleen Devlin
Presenter: Mike Wendling

(Photo: Musician Justin Bieber attends the Saint Laurent show. Credit: Kevork Djansezian /Getty Images)

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