The services are implemented via a system of many smartphones linked with each other and the internet. The operations are performed through regulation software.

Service providers said clients pay a certain amount of money for a marketing and advertisement campaign that helps disseminate information and creates effects for posts on social networks. The posts will have the number of ‘views’ and ‘likes’ that clients want.

In general, social network users are easily led by the posts, videos and images which have many ‘likes’, comments and shares spread on the internet.

The number of ‘views’ and ‘likes’ increase artificially, no matter what the content of the posts is about. In this case, service providers may arbitrarily or accidentally lend a hand to the dissemination of fake news, or toxic and illegal content.

According to the Authority of Information Security (AIS) under the Ministry of Information and Communications, the equipment that helps increase views and likes on Facebook and TikTok is called Phone Farm or Box Phone Farm.

This is hardware with many separate mobile phones and tablet devices connected with each other, plus software that conducts certain operations.

The device is used to simulate users’ behaviors with the aim of increasing the number of visits, likes and shares on social network platforms.

According to AIS, in Vietnam, Phone Farm is used by digital ad firms to make money by helping increase the number of ‘views’ and ‘likes’ of posts and videos posted on social networks.

Social networks have begun trying to restrict virtual views and virtual interactions from the devices.

While Phone Farm is popular in Indonesia and India, the service is considered illegal in some countries.

In China, for example, increasing the number of interactions via Phone Farm is considered unhealthy competition behavior.

In Vietnam, current laws don’t include any regulation that prohibits Phone Farm devices. However, AIS said it is necessary to create Vietnamese standards for this device before taking management measures.

Trong Dat