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| The Ashley Madison Terms Of Service includes an admission to creating “fictitious” profiles. |
A reader pointed out that AshleyMadison.com admits in their terms of service to creating fake profiles for the purpose of “interacting” with paying members.
This is what his copy of the terms of service said:
From time to time this service may include, offer, or initiate winks, collect messages or instant chat from Market Researchers (Online Hosts) simulating attached or single men or women. These efforts are conducted for market research and/or customer experience and/or quality control and/or compliance purposes. Market research information is used to provide analysis, feedback, trends, patterns, social commentary and information in the aggregate and aides in the process of monitoring our system for compliance of our operating standards and code of conduct. Accordingly, Market Researchers (Online Hosts) will NOT be conspicuously identified.
Now his TOS was about three years old so we looked up the Ashley Madison Terms OF Service to see what it says these days.
You acknowledge and agree that some of the profiles posted on the Site are associated with our “Ashley’s AngelsTM” and may be fictitious. The purpose of our Ashley’s AngelsTM is to provide entertainment, to allow you to explore our Services and to promote greater participation in our Services. Ashley’s AngelsTM attempt to simulate communications with real members to encourage more conversation and interaction with users. We also use Ashley’s AngelsTM to monitor user communications and use of our Service to measure compliance with the Terms. Further, we may use Ashley’s AngelsTM in connection with our market research to enable us to analyze user preferences, trends, patterns and information about our customer base. Ashley’s AngelsTM are not intended to resemble or mimic any actual persons. You understand and acknowledge that we create the Ashley’s AngelsTM profiles and those profiles are not based on any user or member of our Service. A single Ashley’s AngelsTM may have more than one profile on our Service. You acknowledge and agree that the descriptions, pictures and information included in the profiles of our Ashley’s AngelsTM are not associated with a real person, but are provided primarily for your amusement.
Ashley’s AngelsTM message with Guest users, but not with Members. Ashley’s AngelsTM contact users through computer generated messages, including emails and instant messages. Ashley’s AngelsTM may offer, initiate or send winks, private keys, and virtual gifts. Ashley’s AngelsTM message with multiple users at the same or substantially the same times. Not only is this feature for your entertainment, but Ashley’s AngelsTM allows us to collect messages, instant chat and/or replies from individuals or programs for market research and/or customer experience and/or quality control and/or compliance purposes. Ashley’s AngelsTM are NOT conspicuously identified as such.
You understand, acknowledge and agree that any interaction or messaging with Ashley’s AngelsTM is independent of, and separate from, our general database of Member’s seeking personal or physical or other kinds of encounters or introductions. You understand that you cannot meet any of our Ashley’s AngelsTM in person and you acknowledge and agree that such communications are for your entertainment and to encourage your use of our Service. You acknowledge and agree that the user conduct provisions of these Terms apply to your interactions with Ashley’s AngelsTM. If you do not wish to continue to receive communications or other interaction from Ashley’s AngelsTM, to which the receipt of such messages you hereby agree to and consent, go to “Manage Profile” and click on “Profile Options”, in “Profile Options” select “Check this box if you do not wish to by contacted by Market Research (Ashley’s AngelsTM).” Then click on “UPDATE”.
As Ashley Madison is a Canadian company, the American government cannot do anything about these practices that many consider deceptive.
Do you think AshleyMadison should be prosecuted for fraud? If you do you should contact the Canadian Government Anti-Fraud Centre
Ashley Madison is the only game in town. They do what ever they want to pad their bottom line…WHY…because they can. What we need is competition. I wish someone else (hopefully a little more honest and non-deceptive) would create a new website to compete. Customers always get better products when there is competition.