Anti-APEC voices are masquerading online as that which they disdain.
At least one site with a Web address almost identical to the official APEC site’s has been operating, offering mostly inactive links but with one leading to stories mocking the organization.
The site also offers links to a Twitter feed and Facebook page that are not official APEC streams of information.
The Twitter feed links to documents that must be downloaded as well as to news parody sites including The Onion. One Twitter post reported that APEC had sourced local food for delegates and guests and given dignitaries a taste of aloha, with a link that led to a Yelp.com page with search results for "Taco Tuesdays in Honolulu."
The fake APEC Hawaii Facebook information page lists the fake APEC Web address.
"The (APEC) Host Committee is aware of the situation, and they are currently reviewing it," said Marylee Varanese, spokeswoman for the Hawaii Host Committee, in response to a query.
The nonauthentic website was registered Sunday by someone identifying himself as John Sweeney of a California address. The website was registered by California-based InMotion Hosting Inc., a Web-hosting company.
The company did not respond to a query.
Another Twitter user cashing in on the cache of APEC has posted APEC-relevant information via @2011apec, but the Twitter handle belongs to Frank Diaz and the Twitter page cites a website for the retired U.S. Navy senior chief’s Hawaii-based real estate business. The business also has a separate Twitter handle.
Official APEC links:
Website: www.apec2011hawaii. com
Twitter: twitter.com/#!/apec2011hawaii
Facebook: www.facebook.com/apechawaii
APEC Secretariat
Website: www.apec.org
Twitter: twitter.com/#!/followAPEC
Facebook: www.facebook.com/APECnews?sk=wall
APEC Host Committee
Website: www.apec2011usa.org
Twitter: twitter.com/#!/APEC2011USA
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/APEC-2011-USA/146486325398263
ABAC — APEC Business Advisory Council
Website: www.abaconline.org/v4/index.php
National Center for APEC
Website: www.ncapec.org
Reach Erika Engle at 529-4303, erika@staradvertiser.com or on Twitter as @erikaengle.
