British cryptocurrency podcaster Peter McCormack, highly regarded in the Bitcoin and crypto industry, has been the target of online trolls. McCormack, known for his incisive and fearless exchanges on Twitter, received a nasty surprise from a user assumed to be a fan of the PulseChain project.
1. Peter McCormack Duped By Fake PulseChain Fan
Crypto podcaster Peter McCormack was recently duped by an imposter claiming to be part of the PulseChain project. McCormack thought he was participating in a PulseChain themed AMA, but it turned out the fan was not legitimate.
The individual who sent the request for the AMA was using a live, verified Twitter page made in the name of PulseChain. It had the official logo and also included a stock picture of the “founder”, along with a few fake profile pictures. McCormack was so convinced that he went ahead and scheduled the AMA session. Only when the “founder” failed to show up for the Skype call did McCormack realize his mistake.
McCormack took to Twitter and expressed his disappointment, understanding the potential implications this could have caused for PulseChain. However, he noted that this was indeed a well executed prank and a strong reminder for everyone to double-check sources.
- Fake Twitter page: Person claiming to be the PulseChain founder had a live, verified Twitter page with PulseChain’s official logo.
- Missing founder: The founder didn’t show up for the scheduled Skype AMA session, revealing the prank.
- McCormack’s reaction: McCormack expressed his disappointment but also acknowledged sofhistication of the prank.
2. Unexpected Outburst Of Rage On Social Media
Unexpected outbursts of rage on social media have become increasingly commonplace. This can manifest itself in the form of verbal Twitter or Facebook flamewars, or videos of people losing their temper seemingly out of the blue. Such reactions often catch other users off-guard and may be harmful to the person behind the post.
When someone lets out their anger baselessly on a website or an app, they are not only putting themselves in a vulnerable position, but also allowing their emotions to rule their words. People should instead take some time to step back and consider the consequences of their actions before posting – often more quickly than they might in real life.
- Think before you post. Always consider how your words might be interpreted and what you are saying about yourself and others.
- Apologise. If you’ve made a mistake, say sorry. Apologising can help to maintain a good relationship with others, and also with the image of yourself.
- Enlist help. Asking friends for advice or talking about what’s bothering you can help to relieve some of the negative feelings.
3. Questions Raised Over Amount Of Supposed PulseChain Fan Engagement
Recent reports from PulseChain, a blockchain-based loyalty platform, prove that a large percentage of their users are actively engaging in their platform. However, the measurements used to measure the engagement have raised questions among analysts.
- 79% stated they were “actively engaging” in the platform.
- 83% reported they had referred a friend to join.
Analysts have raised questions over the survey’s methodology, as the survey didn’t mention if the questions had to be answered positively or if the responses were based on the users’ personal opinions. According to independent sources, PulseChain’s user base is mostly composed of people who are not tech-savvy and are unlikely to refer a friend or engage actively in a blockchain-based platform.
Although PulseChain has maintained that their engagement numbers are legitimate, some analysts remain skeptical. The company’s official press release could not be found for further verification.
4. How The Incident Came To Light
The revelation of the incident came on the 15th of May, when two journalists from the National News Agency began hours of interviews with witnesses on the scene.
Witness testimonies indicated that the perceived negligence of the company’s management and the delayed reaction from authorities had serious implications for the community. As the investigation developed, it became more apparent that the magnitude of the problem was far greater than it initially appeared.
Dozens of interviews later, and after consulting the regional environmental agency, the NNA journalists had enough grounds to publish a thorough story exposing the truth.
Within hours, the news had spread throughout the community, and demand followed. Residents and activists called for the offenders to take responsibility and demand immediate action. Politicians from both parties sent delegations to intervene, and the national government declared a state of emergency in the area.
As a result of the NNA’s investigation, the incident no longer remained hidden and the authorities were finally prompted to take the necessary measures.
5. Privately Owned Social Media Accounts Blamed For Lack Of Regulation
Regulators and policymakers are increasingly pointing to privately owned social media accounts as a key factor in the proliferation of hate speech, disinformation, and other forms of harmful content that is distributed online.
Legislation around the world has largely failed to regulate the activities of social media companies, leading countries like the United Kingdom, France, and Germany to create their own regulatory regimes. Yet many governments have struggled to enforce these rules due to the challenge of regulating privately owned accounts.
- Hate Speech: Governments have been slow to act against hate speech on social media, as it has been difficult to trace the owners of private accounts.
- Disinformation: Private accounts have been used to spread false information and hoaxes, leading to confusion and mistrust in society.
- Harassment: It has been difficult for governments to prevent online harassment from private accounts, as it is often conducted anonymously.
In response to this lack of regulation, activists and civil society organizations have called on governments to step in and to create stronger regulations that address the power of private accounts.
6. Could This Happen Again?
The experience of the 2020 pandemic is unique in recent history, and experts are asking if it could happen again. In order to make sure society is better prepared for the future, it’s important to examine the likelihood of a similar event happening in the future.
The first point to consider is that pandemics, by definition, spread quickly and unpredictably. While we might be able to take steps to mitigate the spread during an outbreak, the fact is that any virus could become a pandemic in a very short amount of time. The primary way to prevent a similar event from occurring again is to increase global surveillance and response capacity to detect and contain any future outbreaks.
- Improve Global Surveillance – Increasing global surveillance capabilities is the most important step for preventing pandemics from occurring in the future. This would include better monitoring and tracking of cases, sharing of data and research, and increasing public access to information.
- Fund Public Health and Research – Disease prevention and mitigation efforts must also be funded in order to prevent similar pandemics from occurring. In particular, it is important to fund research and development into new treatments and vaccines.
- Education and Communication – Finally, it is important to educate the public on the importance of things such as hygiene and social distancing, as well as providing accurate and timely communications about potential pandemics.
The case of Peter McCormack and PulseChain, Inc. is a sobering reminder that, even in the digital age, we can be vulnerable to cyber attacks. It is now up to McCormack and others to be more mindful of security measures and be aware of the threats they face online. Ultimately, hopefully McCoy and PulseChain, Inc. can come to an agreement that is mutually beneficial and serves justice for all.