Facebook takes precautions vs false death reports — tech site

Social media giant Facebook is taking precautions to prevent the memorialization of members' accounts stemming from false death reports.

 

Facebook members whose accounts were mistakenly memorialized can fill out a form though it will take time before they can regain access, The Next Web reported.

 

“We try to take all necessary precautions when processing user requests and provide an appeals process for any possible mistake we may make,” The Next Web quoted a Facebook spokesperson as saying.

 

The Next Web said the accidental memorialization of a Facebook account is a major issue at the social networking site.

 

Once an account is memorialized, it can lock out the owner if the owner is still alive.

 

"When someone’s Facebook account is 'memorialized,' the page becomes inaccessible, meaning that you cannot view any of their photos, videos, Timeline postings, or anything. It’s frozen so that no one else can take the account. The problem here is that anyone can do it to one of their friends or family members — if they’re still alive," The Next Web said.

 

It cited the case of Rusty Foster who found his account victimized.

 

Foster filed multiple responses to Facebook, but the issue has yet to be resolved, it said.

 

At present, Facebook has a special form for those who want an account memorialized.

 

Those who seek memorialization of an account should provide the name of the deceased person, their email address on record, profile URL, their relationship to the deceased person - and proof of the death.

 

But citing a report on Buzzfeed, The Next Web said people can show "proof" by looking online for another person’s obituary and link it.  — ELR, GMA News