Is It Illegal to Use Someone Else's Name to Make a Profile or Email?

Using someone else's name to make a profile or email address can lead to a myriad of legal and ethical issues. While the specific legality can vary by country, it is important to understand the potential risks and the policies of major platforms.

Legal Considerations and Identity Theft

The basic principle is that it is illegal to misrepresent your identity in order to defraud someone. There are no specific laws in the United States that explicitly prohibit using another person's name for a profile or email creation, as long as you do not fraudulently use that information to deceive others.

However, the act of attempting to create an online account with someone else's email address may still pose risks. Firstly, the account can never be successfully created, as the other party will never see or respond to the verification email. Additionally, if the account is affiliated with a service that requires identity verification, such as Facebook, using a fake name can lead to account suspension or deletion.

Facebook Policy and User Verification

Facebook has strict policies regarding the verification of user identities. According to the Facebook User Policy, your name must match the one on your government-issued ID card exactly. There are instances where Facebook has deleted accounts permanently due to failed identity verification, even if just one letter is misspelled or omitted.

Starting in 2018, Facebook made its policies more stringent, making it harder for users to create accounts with fake names. If Facebook detects a fake account, they have the authority to disable it permanently, and the user might not be able to create a new account with the same email address or a fake name.

Privacy and Security Reasons

Creating an email or Facebook account under a fake name is not necessarily illegal, but it could be done for privacy and security reasons. In the case of privacy reasons, using a fake name can make it harder for others to track you down. For security reasons, you can set up the account to be protected from identity theft. However, it is still important to be aware of the platform's policies and the potential consequences of such actions.

It's also worth noting that every country has its own laws. While the act of creating a profile under a fake name may not be illegal in the United States, it could still be seen as unethical and could lead to account suspension or other penalties. In other countries, such actions could be considered identity theft or data fraud and result in legal action.

Conclusion: Risks and Ethical Considerations

Using someone else's name to create a profile or email address is generally not illegal, but it carries significant risks. It can lead to fraud, identity theft, or permanent account suspension from major platforms. If you choose to create an account under a pseudonym, ensure that it aligns with the platform's policies and does not put you or others at risk.