Group Creates MySpace Verification System For Public Figures

Group Verifying Celebrity Profiles On MySpace.com

While MySpace.com rules “prohibit impostors, there’s no verification process,” so Bryant McGill and Jim Karol have set up a group Web site on MySpace called 100% Verified Celebs & MySpace Personalities, “which authenticates MySpace celebrity profiles, free of charge,” according to Jessica Vascellaro of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. Once approved, the verified personalities are listed on a group page at the MySpace site groups.myspace.com/verifiedcelebs, and their profile pages can carry the group’s logo. Certain profiles of Yankees P Randy Johnson and 1B Jason Giambi “passed muster with Mr. McGill when a friend of his told him she could vouch for their authenticity.” McGill said that the “fact that there were similar-looking profiles for other Yankees helped, too.” But Vascellaro notes “those profiles weren't the only ones for those other Yankees.” A Yankees spokesperson said that “this set of profiles wasn't endorsed by the team, and he couldn't verify whether they were created by the players themselves — or by somebody else.” Pages under question include ones for 3B Alex Rodriguez and CF Johnny Damon. A MySpace spokesperson said that the “number of requests to investigate celebrity impostors is ‘relatively small,’ though its staff monitors for copyright infringement and other abuses” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/21).