ABC: PG&E Stealing Facebook Identities on Facebook for Prop 16 ?

It's little surprise that Facebook is the new frontier in political battles. The No On 16 think someone has turned their Facebook pages against them, but Facebook warns the real explanation may not be so simple.

No On 16 supporters say they've been financially unable to compete with their opponents. That's why they turned to social media for exposure. Now, they say even that has been impacted and turned against them.

"Prop 16 is a PG&E power grab and I absolutely hate it," says Ben Zolno.
So why does Ben Zolno's Facebook page show him liking Prop 16? Prop 16 is the ballot measure that would make local governments get a two-thirds majority to buy and sell their own electricity.

Zolno also showed ABC7 a screen grab of an ad he says popped up his friends' Facebook pages, showing the new media producer backing the proposition he spent months fighting.

Christy Michaels, a No On Prop 16 advocate, claims the same thing happened to her.

"It says I like tax payers right to vote and there's my name," says Michaels.

The long-time No On 16 supporter is sure the Yes On 16 campaign is behind this. She thinks they were able to tap into her Facebook information after a friend joined the Yes On 16 site, Michaels claims she suddenly was linked to it herself.

"It spams all of my friends, my friends of friends, all of who are all working on No On 16 and all their connections," says Michaels.

On Thursday, No On 16 advocates filed a formal complaint against their opponents with the attorney general.

"It would strike me as bizarre they would take the time to try to disrupt their opponents' Facebook page," says Corey Cook, Ph.D., from USF.

Cook doubts the Yes On 16 campaign or even Facebook are involved in whatever is going on. In fact, he thinks this social media political fight is par for the course.

"We always here about that story where someone is running for office and their opponents' street sign was placed in front of their house. This is the equivalent of that only in the 21st century," says Cook.

PG&E then lied about it, and Facebook said it could be a virus on everyone's computer that happens to be against Prop 16.

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[andreyblyznyuk]

thgis is the power of Internet!

[mquiroz90]

i say pg&e can go bye bye and we can run on solar from now on

[TylerAustinVlog]

I'm for 16.

[jorgandar]

My ass.. a "virus"??? Get real facebook. The yes on 16 campaign are a bunch of corporate LIARS and last i checked it was a FELONY to hack into someone else's information.

Do you really want to vote to support felons? One hope justice is served on their heads someday. In the meanwhile - NO ON 16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Earthenenigma]

EVEYONE SHOULD GO AND JOIN THIS FACEBOOK GROUP IN SUPPORT!

[nitella]

I don't know how many times you have to say it is offensive on facebook to get rid of it. A couple of family idiots support it because it has a patriotic sounding title. 'Pounds head on keyboard'

[fpgne]

I think it's totally feasible that PG&E would interfere with it's oppostion on facebook. They have already spent over $44 million on their nauseating astro-turf campaign, I'm sure it's within their capability to fuck with people on facebook. They have a track record of using illegitimate, illegal, and immoral methods of getting what they want, and this evidnece of intentional manipulation certainly falls within one, if not all of those categories. SHAME ON PG&E. VOTE NO ON PROP 16