What causes bots like MassPlanner to get shut down

[Somiibo]

I'm just curious as to why tools like massplanner, instagress, or even bots for other sites end up getting shut down.

Is it because they do something illegal? Are they violating some policy and then instagram/twitter/Facebook/SoundCloud threatens to sue?

We're working on a multi platform social media automation tool and want to learn more about how this can be done without doing something so bad as to get shut down by a darn social media site.

Thanks for the advice in advance!

 

[ThreadKiller]

Placing oneself in a country where you can get taken to court by Facebook, is the problem. Completely idiotic to do it from the USA. Quite stupid to do it from Europe , but perfectly safe to do it from Cambodia.

 

[DunDidIt2X]

Because people fold over to threats and scare tactics, not realizing as developers they have rights to build upon public platforms.

 

[THUNDERELVI]

Because people fold over to threats and scare tactics, not realizing as developers they have rights to build upon public platforms.

No, you don't unless the platform has a public API you can use.

 

[Somiibo]

No, you don't unless the platform has a public API you can use.

I understand how this might be against the sites TOS, and it may get the user banned. But, how is it that this is is illegal? What if the bot doesn't manipulate server side information, and only manipulates local information, just as a regular user would? What specifically about a bot accessing a website is illegal I guess is my question

 

[DunDidIt2X]

No, you don't unless the platform has a public API you can use.

I understand how this might be against the sites TOS, and it may get the user banned. But, how is it that this is is illegal? What if the bot doesn't manipulate server side information, and only manipulates local information, just as a regular user would? What specifically about a bot accessing a website is illegal I guess is my question

It is not the developers issue. Its the end users issue on TOS. Just FB scares developers into folding.

 

[Staz]

Because the companies like Instagram and Facebook try to sue them. Just like if you go against their terms as the owner of massplaner you will be given warning. You just cant mess up your whole life trying to mess with Instagram.

 

[dp40oz]

I understand how this might be against the sites TOS, and it may get the user banned. But, how is it that this is is illegal? What if the bot doesn't manipulate server side information, and only manipulates local information, just as a regular user would? What specifically about a bot accessing a website is illegal I guess is my question

It's not illegal but it leaves you open to potentially being sued. So it's not about going to jail but you can get taken for everything you're worth. So for example if you break a contract you won't go to jail but you'll get sued. This is the idea here. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc.. feel that their TOS is a contract. The law is not settled here, for example a company just won a case over LinkedIn about scraping LinkedIn. So far though most cases have sided with the TOS being a contract and people usually don't fight it once they've been sent a cease and desist. Massplanner knows Instagrams lawyers are going to be much better than theirs, and it would be years of legal costs. Just not worth even fighting.

Also even if we all agree that a TOS is a BS contract how does it look when a major website is telling a judge "This software is hurting our site, spamming users and costing us money in resources". Whats the defense? "Screw them we want to make money and abuse the service"? It's just not a winning argument regardless of law.

 

[W9go]

i would take massplaner over

 

[HoNeYBiRD]

I understand how this might be against the sites TOS, and it may get the user banned. But, how is it that this is is illegal? What if the bot doesn't manipulate server side information, and only manipulates local information, just as a regular user would? What specifically about a bot accessing a website is illegal I guess is my question

Well, the main reason as to why they go after these bots is that they can be used for bulk actions, some of them even for creating accounts in bulk. These bulk actions, spam can get to a point when it seriously and negatively effects the user experience. I clearly remember when a few years back the popular page of Instagram was full off spam comments in broken English. Obviously they couldn't let that happen for long. Resources are not free, for more spam accounts more resources are needed, not just on the antispam side, but on the server side too, so these bots cost money for the sites directly and if a site is spammed heavily, that will drive away the real users, if real users are gone, the advertisers will go with them, so it can cost money indirectly too. The other thing is that some of these bots are infringing on the brand names, which is illegal, that's another popular reason they go after bots.

 

[Somiibo]

Well, the main reason as to why they go after these bots is that they can be used for bulk actions, some of them even for creating accounts in bulk. These bulk actions, spam can get to a point when it seriously and negatively effects the user experience. I clearly remember when a few years back the popular page of Instagram was full off spam comments in broken English. Obviously they couldn't let that happen for long. Resources are not free, for more spam accounts more resources are needed, not just on the antispam side, but on the server side too, so these bots cost money for the sites directly and if a site is spammed heavily, that will drive away the real users, if real users are gone, the advertisers will go with them, so it can cost money indirectly too. The other thing is that some of these bots are infringing on the brand names, which is illegal, that's another popular reason they go after bots.

Sorry for the noob question but how exactly would a third party infringe on a brand name that you mentioned? Does this mean as simple as putting the word 'Instagram' on a website? What if one includes an Instagram logo on my website?

It's not illegal but it leaves you open to potentially being sued. So it's not about going to jail but you can get taken for everything you're worth. So for example if you break a contract you won't go to jail but you'll get sued. This is the idea here. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc.. feel that their TOS is a contract. The law is not settled here, for example a company just won a case over LinkedIn about scraping LinkedIn. So far though most cases have sided with the TOS being a contract and people usually don't fight it once they've been sent a cease and desist. Massplanner knows Instagrams lawyers are going to be much better than theirs, and it would be years of legal costs. Just not worth even fighting.

Also even if we all agree that a TOS is a BS contract how does it look when a major website is telling a judge "This software is hurting our site, spamming users and costing us money in resources". Whats the defense? "Screw them we want to make money and abuse the service"? It's just not a winning argument regardless of law.

Thanks this is an incredibly insightful response thanks! I can see how this works I think.

 

[patriotnews]

Sorry for the noob question but how exactly would a third party infringe on a brand name that you mentioned? Does this mean as simple as putting the word 'Instagram' on a website? What if one includes an Instagram logo on my website?



Thanks this is an incredibly insightful response thanks! I can see how this works I think.

Their logo, their name are their brand, and they can, will, and do go after company's that use their brand without permission. Could be as easy as a DMCA or up to a lawsuit. Some companies are stricter about brand protection than others.

 

[Deleted member 657006]

bot get shut down because they break tos of the social websites.

lots of ppl use them to spam social websites .

bots earn ppl money , and there used to steel traffic so the website ban them.

 

[greymoon]

make a bot, take payments in monero, live in Siberia dont have problems with FB

 

[Deleted member 657006]

make a bot, take payments in monero, live in Siberia dont have problems with FB

I think the quastion was different and you still explained it wrongly

off sure account
and use Bitcoin for payments

 

[HoNeYBiRD]

Sorry for the noob question but how exactly would a third party infringe on a brand name that you mentioned? Does this mean as simple as putting the word 'Instagram' on a website?

The third party doesn't even have to infringe on the whole brand name, just check out which terms are trademarked by Instagram ("insta", "gram") and you cannot use those in the manner that it's related to the Instagram brand.

How to use Instagram assets: https://en.instagram-brand.com/guidelines/general

What if one includes an Instagram logo on my website?

For that you have a clausal in your TOS, that you cannot be held liable for user submitted content. BHW has similar: "Although the administrators and moderators of Black Hat Forum Black Hat SEO will attempt to keep all objectionable messages off this forum, it is impossible for us to review all messages. All messages express the views of the author, and neither the owners of Black Hat Forum Black Hat SEO, nor Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. (developers of vBulletin) will be held responsible for the content of any message."

 

[Somiibo]

The third party doesn't even have to infringe on the whole brand name, just check out which terms are trademarked by Instagram (https://techcrunch.com/2013/08/19/instagram-cracks-down-on-connected-apps-using-insta-and-gram/) and you cannot use those in the manner that it's related to the Instagram brand.

How to use Instagram assets: https://en.instagram-brand.com/guidelines/general


For that you have a clausal in your TOS, that you cannot be held liable for user submitted content. BHW has similar: "Although the administrators and moderators of Black Hat Forum Black Hat SEO will attempt to keep all objectionable messages off this forum, it is impossible for us to review all messages. All messages express the views of the author, and neither the owners of Black Hat Forum Black Hat SEO, nor Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. (developers of vBulletin) will be held responsible for the content of any message."

Very helpful post again thank you. I actually made a typo as I was on my phone. I mean't to say: what if I include an instagram logo on my website? Is there a difference of what I would say in my TOS?

For example, http://fontawesome.io/icon/instagram/ (a font that is basically icons) has an instagram icon. Wouldn't everyone using this font be infringing on instagram?

 

[HoNeYBiRD]

Very helpful post again thank you. I actually made a typo as I was on my phone. I mean't to say: what if I include an instagram logo on my website? Is there a difference of what I would say in my TOS?

For example, http://fontawesome.io/icon/instagram/ (a font that is basically icons) has an instagram icon. Wouldn't everyone using this font be infringing on instagram?

If you read what i linked above, the answer is there: "Anyone using Instagram’s assets should only use the logos and screenshots found on our Brand Resources site and follow these guidelines. Only those planning to use Instagram’s assets in any broadcast, out-of-home advertising or print larger than 8.5 x 11 inches (A4 size) need to request permission. Requests must be in English and include a mock of how you’re planning to use the Instagram logo."

 

[HiddenPower]

Placing oneself in a country where you can get taken to court by Facebook, is the problem. Completely idiotic to do it from the USA. Quite stupid to do it from Europe , but perfectly safe to do it from Cambodia.

What if you live in Cambodia but your hosting server is in USA, would that be a problem?