Has anyone else seen some recent highway-related posts on Facebook by an account named Americo Express? It seems to be AI-generated content, but the AI still makes factual errors when posting that result in the post getting a lot more attention than I would normally expect from road-related content.
About 10 years ago,
@bugo had an interesting take about sign errors and said that he wouldn't report a sign error on I-49 since an error can lead to someone becoming interested in the hobby. This seems like a situation similar to that, where mass-shared content is being noticed and commented on by others at a greater rate than something that would otherwise have been posted either here or on one of the organized Facebook groups. Just kind of interesting.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084767865730&mibextid=LQQJ4d
The one review of the page points out it's managed in India and many of the pics are stolen from USEnds.com. The "Proud An American Citizen" slogan doesn't help here.
I really don't understand the goal here with these people.
1) Post pix of United States roads from foreign country
2) ?
3) Profit
They're the underpants gnomes of Facebook.
I've created a handy guide:
Bothell is a city in the state of Washington.
Bot Hell is the current state of social media.
I just reported the account as Misinformation > Social Issues. You should do the same, or it will continue to generate more attention and junk. I think all of us can agree on that; if not, you're probably also a bot.
I've had posts by a couple of these very similar accounts posting very similar content. Another one I've seen is called "Culture". All posted in the same style, all seems AI generated. Weird.
"Americo Express" sounds like it should be a coffee shop, or maybe one of those run down corner gas stations that still have only 4 pumps and a manually-operated price sign that doesn't match the rest of their branding.
Quote from: Scott5114 on September 01, 2024, 01:29:43 AM"Americo Express" sounds like it should be a coffee shop, or maybe one of those run down corner gas stations that still have only 4 pumps and a manually-operated price sign that doesn't match the rest of their branding.
https://www.reddit.com/r/oddlyspecific/
Quote from: SectorZ on August 31, 2024, 07:32:00 AMThe one review of the page points out it's managed in India and many of the pics are stolen from USEnds.com. The "Proud An American Citizen" slogan doesn't help here.
I really don't understand the goal here with these people.
1) Post pix of United States roads from foreign country
2) ?
3) Profit
They're the underpants gnomes of Facebook.
It doesn't take a great deal to get a monetized Facebook page going.
FWIW, I've blocked this page given the obvious photo theft (and probably plagiarism) that was afoot.
Quote from: Molandfreak on September 01, 2024, 01:41:56 AMQuote from: Scott5114 on September 01, 2024, 01:29:43 AM"Americo Express" sounds like it should be a coffee shop, or maybe one of those run down corner gas stations that still have only 4 pumps and a manually-operated price sign that doesn't match the rest of their branding.
https://www.reddit.com/r/oddlyspecific/
I have found the sounds of my people.
Since it used one of my photos without a source nor attribution, I also hit it with a copyright violation. Another pointless task but maybe something gets done about that crap.
Quote from: formulanone on September 01, 2024, 08:00:39 AMQuote from: Molandfreak on September 01, 2024, 01:41:56 AMQuote from: Scott5114 on September 01, 2024, 01:29:43 AM"Americo Express" sounds like it should be a coffee shop, or maybe one of those run down corner gas stations that still have only 4 pumps and a manually-operated price sign that doesn't match the rest of their branding.
https://www.reddit.com/r/oddlyspecific/
I have found the sounds of my people.
Since it used one of my photos without a source nor attribution, I also hit it with a copyright violation. Another pointless task but maybe something gets done about that crap.
I have filed copyright notices in the past—once for a page that clipped a comment of mine out of context even though I'm far from a public figure. The post was taken down, so it doesn't seem to be that futile of a task.
For the record, I didn't mean to condone the content this page posts, I just thought it was interesting that it was getting so much attention.
Quote from: Scott5114 on September 01, 2024, 01:29:43 AM"Americo Express" sounds like it should be a coffee shop, or maybe one of those run down corner gas stations that still have only 4 pumps and a manually-operated price sign that doesn't match the rest of their branding.
To my mind, "Americo Express" sounds like the sort of typo you see in a lot of phishing e-mails (I got a phishing attempt the other day claiming that I needed to verify my "PaytoPal" account).
The IT department at my office periodically sends out fake phishing e-mails as a test; you're supposed to click a button to report phishing if you see a message you suspect as such. Two weeks ago, they sent me one from "Amazom" (note spelling, which appeared four times in the message).
I remember back when Stearn Cornmunity was a thing. There were jokes about being Steam taken over by corn.
I actually almost got phished a few days ago. It was pretending to be DocuSign, which I've used legitimately before. I had just started Phase II of a grant, so I thought it was for that. However, it led to what it said was a Webmail login and asked for my password. Luckily, my boss texted me and told me it was a scam before I was able to type in my password. The thing is, though, that I received the fake email at 9:03 AM, and the text from my boss came in at 9:16 AM. If I had opened my work computer at any time in the prior 13 minutes, I would have been phished. (I'm not sure how much damage it would have done; most of my accounts use my home email and not my work email.)
I remember that. The poster "AHTD" asked the members of this forum to contact the highway department to report I-540 signs in NWA after it was renumbered to I-49. I said that some day a kid might see an I-540 sign in Fayetteville and become a road enthusiast because of it. But the anal roadgeeks have to ruin everything because they're mentally ill and think everything has to be the same everywhere. Screw those guys.
Quote from: bugo on September 04, 2024, 09:11:36 PMI remember that. The poster "AHTD" asked the members of this forum to contact the highway department to report I-540 signs in NWA after it was renumbered to I-49. I said that some day a kid might see an I-540 sign in Fayetteville and become a road enthusiast because of it. But the anal roadgeeks have to ruin everything because they're mentally ill and think everything has to be the same everywhere. Screw those guys.
Wasn't AHTD a government account from the DOT?
Follow Up...
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Basically, Facebook is not looking into this because they can't perform 30 more seconds of research: namely, photo EXIF information matching the Facebook user ID. I sent a reply showing that the embedded photo data matches my FB name, and how to do that.
Not sure if the email reply goes anywhere.
Surprisingly, I got another response within an hour. They have now removed the two photo violations I have requested.
I encourage others to do the same, though this is not always possible nor easy to prove. If you have the ability to edit your EXIF data on jpeg files, I recommend doing so. Of course what's already uploaded cannot be re-loaded unless you have direct control of the image file.
Quote from: vdeane on September 05, 2024, 12:47:24 PMQuote from: bugo on September 04, 2024, 09:11:36 PMI remember that. The poster "AHTD" asked the members of this forum to contact the highway department to report I-540 signs in NWA after it was renumbered to I-49. I said that some day a kid might see an I-540 sign in Fayetteville and become a road enthusiast because of it. But the anal roadgeeks have to ruin everything because they're mentally ill and think everything has to be the same everywhere. Screw those guys.
Wasn't AHTD a government account from the DOT?
I believe it was if I remember correctly.
I took this picture about 10 years ago (the sign is no longer there) and a year or two later, the Penny Hoarder stole it, edited it and posted it on their Facebook page. The way it was posted I wasn't able to report it. I guess the way they hoard pennies is because they steal images and don't have to pay for them.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/5446/17424811629_92688dab6b_c.jpg)
Quote from: 1995hoo on September 02, 2024, 09:29:57 AMQuote from: Scott5114 on September 01, 2024, 01:29:43 AM"Americo Express" sounds like it should be a coffee shop, or maybe one of those run down corner gas stations that still have only 4 pumps and a manually-operated price sign that doesn't match the rest of their branding.
To my mind, "Americo Express" sounds like the sort of typo you see in a lot of phishing e-mails (I got a phishing attempt the other day claiming that I needed to verify my "PaytoPal" account).
The IT department at my office periodically sends out fake phishing e-mails as a test; you're supposed to click a button to report phishing if you see a message you suspect as such. Two weeks ago, they sent me one from "Amazom" (note spelling, which appeared four times in the message).
My company does the same thing and when you use the Phishing Button to click something that you are concerned about that ends up being legit, they slap your hands for using the button because you should know to fully check it out (that's why I clicked the button!).
I had that A.I. site blocked now they are putting that stuff out as Americo Fans. Just blocked them too.
Quote from: Big John on November 12, 2024, 05:38:43 AMI had that A.I. site blocked now they ars putting that stuff out as Americo Fans. Just blocked them too.
That name implies there are fans of AI slop.
They've largely resorted to just copying off Google Street View.
And me, but that's besides the point. [Every road] is an important...
Now a 3rd site from that source. - Culture & Life USA.
We had a similar thread about the "Culture" and "World Culture" pages, and it got locked for violating the "no discussion of other sites" rule.
Quote from: hbelkins on November 12, 2024, 08:56:56 PMWe had a similar thread about the "Culture" and "World Culture" pages, and it got locked for violating the "no discussion of other sites" rule.
Yeah, but if it's discussing roads I feel we're in a gray area, in my opinion.
Surely we don't need a lovefest/rant about Facebook and how other websites handle their business. But we're okay with discussion on other roadgeeks' websites, and rightfully so; it's the core of our forum's discussion and many of them are also created by its members.
It's an exhibit of misinformation (but not necessarily "disinformation") and how we're witnessing the accelerating erosion of facts due to the ability of someone to turn a profit (however minuscule) from our hobby. 99% of the populace doesn't care about these specifics but as it grows like a cancer (sites with incorrect data get web-crawled and copied repeatedly, redistribution by the masses' arguments), this kind of specific information gets dumbed down across all sorts of subjects.
Sturgeon's Law in effect; as the masses have no limit on information overload, they just want the bottomless pit filled, and one void is filling another ceaselessly and carelessly.
Never mind all that, who wants more photos?
Quote from: formulanone on November 13, 2024, 09:55:40 AMdue to the ability of someone to turn a profit (however minuscule) from our hobby.
How in the world do these AI pages make money by stealing pictures and jamming in often-incorrect generated text? I didn't even know it was possible to make money from a Facebook page.
Quote from: vdeane on November 13, 2024, 12:59:57 PMQuote from: formulanone on November 13, 2024, 09:55:40 AMdue to the ability of someone to turn a profit (however minuscule) from our hobby.
How in the world do these AI pages make money by stealing pictures and jamming in often-incorrect generated text? I didn't even know it was possible to make money from a Facebook page.
Life, uh, finds a way. Many make money playing video games on YouTube and Twitch, so I guess it isn't all too unreasonable to expect the same by posting on Facebook.
Quote from: vdeane on November 13, 2024, 12:59:57 PMQuote from: formulanone on November 13, 2024, 09:55:40 AMdue to the ability of someone to turn a profit (however minuscule) from our hobby.
How in the world do these AI pages make money by stealing pictures and jamming in often-incorrect generated text? I didn't even know it was possible to make money from a Facebook page.
One can monetize a page, but I can't imagine it's making much more than fractions of a cent with its tiny fan base.
Quote from: formulanone on November 13, 2024, 02:15:12 PMQuote from: vdeane on November 13, 2024, 12:59:57 PMQuote from: formulanone on November 13, 2024, 09:55:40 AMdue to the ability of someone to turn a profit (however minuscule) from our hobby.
How in the world do these AI pages make money by stealing pictures and jamming in often-incorrect generated text? I didn't even know it was possible to make money from a Facebook page.
One can monetize a page, but I can't imagine it's making much more than fractions of a cent with its tiny fan base.
20,000 followers with decent engagement would net a decent amount of spare change on Facebook. Facebook is big on monetizing engagement.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 13, 2024, 02:24:14 PMQuote from: formulanone on November 13, 2024, 02:15:12 PMQuote from: vdeane on November 13, 2024, 12:59:57 PMQuote from: formulanone on November 13, 2024, 09:55:40 AMdue to the ability of someone to turn a profit (however minuscule) from our hobby.
How in the world do these AI pages make money by stealing pictures and jamming in often-incorrect generated text? I didn't even know it was possible to make money from a Facebook page.
One can monetize a page, but I can't imagine it's making much more than fractions of a cent with its tiny fan base.
20,000 followers with decent engagement would net a decent amount of spare change on Facebook. Facebook is big on monetizing engagement.
"Decent" is quite subjective.
Quote from: Rothman on November 13, 2024, 02:25:54 PMQuote from: Max Rockatansky on November 13, 2024, 02:24:14 PMQuote from: formulanone on November 13, 2024, 02:15:12 PMQuote from: vdeane on November 13, 2024, 12:59:57 PMQuote from: formulanone on November 13, 2024, 09:55:40 AMdue to the ability of someone to turn a profit (however minuscule) from our hobby.
How in the world do these AI pages make money by stealing pictures and jamming in often-incorrect generated text? I didn't even know it was possible to make money from a Facebook page.
One can monetize a page, but I can't imagine it's making much more than fractions of a cent with its tiny fan base.
20,000 followers with decent engagement would net a decent amount of spare change on Facebook. Facebook is big on monetizing engagement.
"Decent" is quite subjective.
Put it this way, it is enough at times to carry the expenses of a couple day trips a month. Definitely not something worth quitting a well paying job over.
Also, a page chock full of AI-generated content takes a minimal amount of time to maintain since you don't have to care about things like it being correct. You may be making $1/day off of it, but if you run 500 such pages...
If you want to see some ignorance, read the comment sections for these posts.
Quote from: bugo on November 13, 2024, 03:09:02 PMIf you want to see some ignorance, read the comment sections for these posts.
Those may as well also be AI-generated.
I just wonder how it knows to serve those pages to some of us. I have very little road-related content on my personal Facebook page.
Quote from: hbelkins on November 13, 2024, 05:35:53 PMI just wonder how it knows to serve those pages to some of us. I have very little road-related content on my personal Facebook page.
If you reply to the FB site of this website or related FB pages (Roadgeekery, There is no way that is MUTCD compliant) it steers you to there.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on November 13, 2024, 05:43:17 PMQuote from: hbelkins on November 13, 2024, 05:35:53 PMI just wonder how it knows to serve those pages to some of us. I have very little road-related content on my personal Facebook page.
If you reply to the FB site of this website or related FB pages (Roadgeekery, There is no way that is MUTCD compliant) it steers you to there.
Really road anything will trigger the algorithm to show you AI pages on the topic.
Speaking of "There is no way that is MUTCD compliant" that is likely the worst road group I've ever been part of. The group basically is just a bunch of safety nerds, hyper pedantic MUTCD acolytes and NUMTOTs. The most common theme is to bitch about nominally non-complaint signage. There is way better stuff out there like "Give Me a Sign" if you want actual interesting and/or funny signage.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 13, 2024, 05:47:34 PMSpeaking of "There is no way that is MUTCD compliant" that is likely the worst road group I've ever been part of. The group basically is just a bunch of safety nerds, hyper pedantic MUTCD acolytes and NUMTOTs. The most common theme is to bitch about nominally non-complaint signage. There is way better stuff out there like "Give Me a Sign" if you want actual interesting and/or funny signage.
There is no way this is MUTCD compliant is just a NUMTOT group now.
Quote from: LilianaUwU on November 13, 2024, 03:20:05 PMQuote from: bugo on November 13, 2024, 03:09:02 PMIf you want to see some ignorance, read the comment sections for these posts.
Those may as well also be AI-generated.
The Dead Internet...
Quote from: hbelkins on November 13, 2024, 05:35:53 PMI just wonder how it knows to serve those pages to some of us. I have very little road-related content on my personal Facebook page.
There are a lot of websites that embed Facebook code (called a "tracking pixel") into them that tells Facebook that you visited the site. This is normally so that the site can then show you ads to steer you back to the site when you're on Facebook. Facebook then shows you related content because it knows you visit sites like that.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 13, 2024, 05:47:34 PMQuote from: jp the roadgeek on November 13, 2024, 05:43:17 PMQuote from: hbelkins on November 13, 2024, 05:35:53 PMI just wonder how it knows to serve those pages to some of us. I have very little road-related content on my personal Facebook page.
If you reply to the FB site of this website or related FB pages (Roadgeekery, There is no way that is MUTCD compliant) it steers you to there.
Really road anything will trigger the algorithm to show you AI pages on the topic.
Speaking of "There is no way that is MUTCD compliant" that is likely the worst road group I've ever been part of. The group basically is just a bunch of safety nerds, hyper pedantic MUTCD acolytes and NUMTOTs. The most common theme is to bitch about nominally non-complaint signage. There is way better stuff out there like "Give Me a Sign" if you want actual interesting and/or funny signage.
There are actually two "No Way" groups, and they're equally bad.
And now there's a new AI-generated page called "Culture and Life USA" that posts the same inaccurate garbage. One I saw yesterday talked about the towns US 60 serves in Kansas (?!) and another had photos of a New York state route while the text was about a US route.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 13, 2024, 05:47:34 PMQuote from: jp the roadgeek on November 13, 2024, 05:43:17 PMQuote from: hbelkins on November 13, 2024, 05:35:53 PMI just wonder how it knows to serve those pages to some of us. I have very little road-related content on my personal Facebook page.
If you reply to the FB site of this website or related FB pages (Roadgeekery, There is no way that is MUTCD compliant) it steers you to there.
Really road anything will trigger the algorithm to show you AI pages on the topic.
Speaking of "There is no way that is MUTCD compliant" that is likely the worst road group I've ever been part of. The group basically is just a bunch of safety nerds, hyper pedantic MUTCD acolytes and NUMTOTs. The most common theme is to bitch about nominally non-complaint signage. There is way better stuff out there like "Give Me a Sign" if you want actual interesting and/or funny signage.
If you were around years ago that group was so bad that the weirdo modding it herself closed it down, because she "didn't have time" to mod the group AND mod the infamous NUMTOT group. I left just because it was politically extreme and one-sided that it wasn't fun anymore. I think after I left she was no longer the mod (after she magically discovered more time to run both) and maybe it got better without her. I doubt it.
Quote from: SectorZ on November 15, 2024, 04:03:42 PMQuote from: Max Rockatansky on November 13, 2024, 05:47:34 PMQuote from: jp the roadgeek on November 13, 2024, 05:43:17 PMQuote from: hbelkins on November 13, 2024, 05:35:53 PMI just wonder how it knows to serve those pages to some of us. I have very little road-related content on my personal Facebook page.
If you reply to the FB site of this website or related FB pages (Roadgeekery, There is no way that is MUTCD compliant) it steers you to there.
Really road anything will trigger the algorithm to show you AI pages on the topic.
Speaking of "There is no way that is MUTCD compliant" that is likely the worst road group I've ever been part of. The group basically is just a bunch of safety nerds, hyper pedantic MUTCD acolytes and NUMTOTs. The most common theme is to bitch about nominally non-complaint signage. There is way better stuff out there like "Give Me a Sign" if you want actual interesting and/or funny signage.
If you were around years ago that group was so bad that the weirdo modding it herself closed it down, because she "didn't have time" to mod the group AND mod the infamous NUMTOT group. I left just because it was politically extreme and one-sided that it wasn't fun anymore. I think after I left she was no longer the mod (after she magically discovered more time to run both) and maybe it got better without her. I doubt it.
I used to occasionally share Gribblenation stuff there since it would get good visibility. There was a bunch of people who began to comment on how dangerous it was that I was taking road photos. I was a fan of the group content before that, the safety nerd stuff was the last straw that prompted my exit.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 15, 2024, 04:11:49 PMThere was a bunch of people who began to comment on how dangerous it was that I was taking road photos.
I have noticed a shift here as well. Used to be that roadgeeks getting pictures with their point and shoot cameras was taken for granted. These days, we very frequently see "of course, I stopped on the shoulder" or "of course, I was the passenger" appended to sign photos and often "I couldn't find a place to pull over" when someone wanted to get a photo but didn't. Then again, there was an era when people outside our hobby who weren't into photography enough to get a DSLR only had their phones, and point and shoot cameras are so far removed from common use that they've become retro cool.
Quote from: vdeane on November 15, 2024, 10:13:48 PMQuote from: Max Rockatansky on November 15, 2024, 04:11:49 PMThere was a bunch of people who began to comment on how dangerous it was that I was taking road photos.
I have noticed a shift here as well. Used to be that roadgeeks getting pictures with their point and shoot cameras was taken for granted. These days, we very frequently see "of course, I stopped on the shoulder" or "of course, I was the passenger" appended to sign photos and often "I couldn't find a place to pull over" when someone wanted to get a photo but didn't. Then again, there was an era when people outside our hobby who weren't into photography enough to get a DSLR only had their phones, and point and shoot cameras are so far removed from common use that they've become retro cool.
Suffice to say I'm mot in this hobby for "safety." I have safety stuff to manage at work since I'm the appointed "safety manager." A lot of those folks were into personal safety theater and flip out over really minor things. Seemingly me using the camera option on my phone (which takes two thumb taps to activate) while in motion on mostly rural backroads is one of those things.
The last point and shoot camera was last used maybe in 2011 or 2012? I have some Florida road photos from those years that look like they came from my point and shoot. I think that I realized by then it was easier just to take photos with my phone.
https://www.facebook.com/share/18GeWrNTsM/?mibextid=wwXIfr
I guess the content farms are moving beyond stealing images and are now posting poorly-rendered AI prompts. Progress? :banghead:
^^^
Ah good, I already had that one blocked.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2025, 08:49:01 PM^^^
Ah good, I already had that one blocked.
(https://i.imgur.com/5oxxhey.jpeg)
Is that flag (50 stars) even a correct match for everything else in that image?
Mike
Quote from: mgk920 on February 25, 2025, 12:54:30 PMIs that flag (50 stars) even a correct match for everything else in that image?
Mike
I'm more concerned about what the flagpole is attached to.
Quote from: hotdogPi on February 25, 2025, 01:10:13 PMQuote from: mgk920 on February 25, 2025, 12:54:30 PMIs that flag (50 stars) even a correct match for everything else in that image?
Mike
I'm more concerned about what the flagpole is attached to.
To me it looks like one of those little stick flags they sell at gift shops that someone stuck in the holes of the pole the Routeroute 10 shield is on.
I suppose I chased them into this corner by the fifth or sixth takedown notice.
"Culture" has a few of my images, and now Meta wants me to confirm each request with a verification code.
Insulting...
"Viral Hook" is another one of these garbage road pages.
Edit: just sent 5 more copyright notices, already one responded and removed.
Quote from: formulanone on February 25, 2025, 03:16:31 PMI suppose I chased them into this corner by the fifth or sixth takedown notice.
"Culture" has a few of my images, and now Meta wants me to confirm each request with a verification code.
Insulting...
"Viral Hook" is another one of these garbage road pages.
Edit: just sent 5 more copyright notices, already one responded and removed.
They're lucky you're not sending them by registered mail.
Quote from: Scott5114 on February 25, 2025, 03:54:50 PMQuote from: formulanone on February 25, 2025, 03:16:31 PMI suppose I chased them into this corner by the fifth or sixth takedown notice.
"Culture" has a few of my images, and now Meta wants me to confirm each request with a verification code.
Insulting...
"Viral Hook" is another one of these garbage road pages.
Edit: just sent 5 more copyright notices, already one responded and removed.
They're lucky you're not sending them by registered mail.
Interestingly, there's a mailing address field, but I haven't had to use it yet.
I noticed one of those new AI pages yesterday that had an entry for US 31, but a map of US 33.