No, using fake names on social media in Puerto Rico is not universally legal. While the First Amendment protects pseudonymity, Puerto Rico’s Ley de Fraude Electrónico (Law 114-2021) and local Código Penal (Art. 255) criminalize impersonation for fraudulent purposes. The Oficina del Procurador del Consumidor (OPC) enforces deceptive practices under Reglamento 8788, requiring platforms to verify identities for commercial accounts. Recent 2026 amendments to Ley 253-2006 (Consumer Protection Act) now mandate transparency for political or influencer accounts, imposing fines up to $10,000 for violations.
Key Regulations for Using Fake Names on Social Media in Puerto Rico
- Fraudulent Impersonation: Under Art. 255 del Código Penal, using a fake name to deceive others for financial or personal gain constitutes a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year imprisonment or $5,000 fines.
- Consumer Protection Enforcement: The OPC prohibits deceptive aliases in commercial interactions via Reglamento 8788, requiring platforms to disclose real identities upon request for investigations.
- Political/Influencer Disclosure: Amendments to Ley 253-2006 (effective 2026) mandate that accounts promoting goods/services or political content must use verifiable names, with non-compliance triggering penalties under Art. 32 of the same law.
Platforms operating in Puerto Rico must comply with Ley 151-2020 (Data Privacy Act), which aligns with GDPR-like provisions, requiring user identity verification for accounts with >1,000 followers. Courts have upheld restrictions where fake names facilitate harassment (Tribunal de Primera Instancia, San Juan, 2023). Non-residents using fake names for Puerto Rico-based activities may face extradition under Ley 146-2012 (International Cooperation Act). Always verify jurisdiction-specific exemptions for satire or whistleblowing.