the server in question is also labeled as beta, so they could be testing various things in the server… as of right now, it appears that the bots have been removed.
First of all, its not removed. They activate / deactivate them:
(Picutre today 10:26 AM)
you argue about ToS.
Do you have the section of the ToS you can show, where it says you can’t use bots on modified servers?
i’m waiting… 
…and i will probably wait forever too.
Its very simple → Such Bot services dont simply buy 100 different rockstar licenses for botting. They “emulate” people and changing codes with methods like this:
data.push_back({
{ "endpoint", (showEP) ? client->GetAddress().ToString() : "127.0.0.1" },
{ "id", client->GetNetId() },
{ "identifiers", identifiers },
{ "name", client->GetName() },
{ "ping", peer ? peer->GetPing() : -1 }
});
data.push_back({
{ "endpoint", "127.0.0.1" },
{ "id", client->GetNetId() + 1 },
{ "identifiers", { "license:52a8be797f2925ddeae69b7fcb6818008f6b8bfd", "license2:52a8be797f2925ddeae69b7fcb6818008f6b8bfd" } },
{ "name", "Test User" },
{ "ping", 5 }
});
This can be done with something as simple as a post request if u manage to generate auth tickets dynamic and info jsons as well as the heartbeat requests to server-live using an nginx reverse proxy and an express api to intercept and modify requests. FiveM have modified their curl library to require their ssl cert for svadhesive.dll so can’t http debug, had to use wireshark and ssl-keys tricks & that is for sure NOT allowed.
It would be a completly different thing, if such servers would JUST fake players, without “affect” the serverlist. But they use methods, wich as well show this players on server list & thats for sure NOT allowed again.
Its just a “small exmaple” and i dont want explain a lot more about possibilitys and code manipulation. But this methods are only possible by violiating the ToS wich clearly says, general code changes & manipulations & abuse of code for advantage are not allowed. But they are needed to fake the players even in FiveM Serverlist.
And just because it not stay in direct words into the ToS, its still not allowed.
Yes if you search for “faking players” into ToS, you will not find anything.
But you can look up to 4.2 & 5.4 into the ToS, wich could be for sure affected in this szenario.
totally fine… help OP with his issues. no one asked for you to reply on my comment, you added no new information…
Finally i dont really need help from you on that “issue”. And its too much emotional stuff from your side here. I dont know you talk about everything else wich have nothing to do with a simple point in that topic here. What have resources to do with the general “problem” wich is → if your take a look into the serverlist → than a lot player numbers are simply not “real” → wich affect a fair competition. its actually not so complicated as you make it here. I dont even are interested to answer to everything of this. (nothing personal) I am not sure if your understand the point in this topic. And if you understand the point, i dont get; why are you fighting so hard to protect servers that are OBVIOUSLY faking player numbers?
Potential Bot accounts seem to not worry FiveM, as all it does is boost the player count, and not apply a Server List Boost. Paying for Server Boosts actually helps your account reach the top of the list.
That is absolutly no sense. Of course it affect server list. It simply depends on which filter you use in the server list. And most players don’t sort the server according to “uptoves/boosts”, but clearly according to “number of players” and this manipulates the server list and gives you an advantage by appearing at the top.
So in that case, its in germany now ranked #3 - with 50 bots & 30 real player → of course its not fair competition, because “normal” people, will not notice, that this servers boosted by faking players.
the server in question is also labeled as beta, so they could be testing various things in the server… as of right now, it appears that the bots have been removed.
But again i am not understanding, why you are FIGHT SO HARD for such servers, wich for sure NOT testing just various things.
This topic here is not a question specially to you, I’m sorry if it seemed that way. that is a misunderstanding. This topic should be a shoutout - Not using such sad methods to avoid losing server reputation. And even more get attention to the topic, which should have been addressed by Fivem long ago, as is the case on every other platform. Since it is an absolute violation in almost every game with server lists to gain server list advantages through fake players.
But i am thankful for your several answers here, wich keep the topic alive. Just not sure, if the main topic changed already to something else.
So back to the point → Faking Players in FiveM Server List → Is and should be not allowed. Even by this kind of methods. Because without manipulating Code, its not possible connect SO MUCH times with same account (license) to the same server & appear on server lists as well.
We dont talk about buying 5x times a License & connect to own server. We talking about bot services, witch active manipulating.
I dont need a lesson in “bot farms” or something else. Its nice if you have “some” knowledge.
Than you will know (FOR SURE) → that into FiveM methods are STILL used, wich should be get striked.
So in MY OPINION: Something should be done against fake player bot service´s
If YOU dont care that other servers break fair competition → Maybe its not the right topic for you - But thanks for your advise of course. But we running a top 15 german server & worked hard and a lot to get 90% selfmade system, the top 15 ranking after 1,5 years of hard work & a lot of invest & i dont want let it ruin by copy and paste servers, wich just fake players & and thereby skip this whole process in order to be placed above us and others in the server list (since, as I said, most sort by player numbers)
Take the trouble to think about “legal” ways. Create an AFK system to keep REAL players on the server. But don’t look for the easy way out & exploit security gaps. That’s what this is about. Security gaps are exploited, which you can read about in various forums if you are interested.
So for me, its a “personal” importance, that such things should be get checked. Yes.
But it again not change something on the topic → that it simply not correct, faking players in serverlist.
Idk we can talk around long time this way, but we will everytime get back to the point → faking players in fivem serverlist to get advantage is not correct & its POSSIBLE affect the ToS on such things as well.
And AGAIN: the topic is NOT about just servers, wich connect with 10 own buyed additional Licenses / Accounts. We talking about → there are in general A LOT bot services, several topics in deep web & many servers, wich using exactly this kind of SECURITY EXPLOIT methods (wich i dont want comunicate in detail in public) but they are FOR SURE not legit & still in 2024 possible.
And if nothing happen against such servers because CFX dont care (how you say) → Than maybe the only way against such things is a “expose” website, wich showing such servers wich faking players. I know from some forums as well, in some countrys there are already developer wich created such sites, where you can check, wich servers using fake players. And THIS means to me, if even normal Devs was able expose all servers from compeltly serverlist wich using methods to fake players, than FiveM even more should be able to this. Check for example this site: botchecker.nl (wich seems be down in the meantime)
or dicord bots wich can do that:
(This Bots / Sites / Pictures are already OLD!)
Should just show, what is possible.
But honestly i am not sure, if its the “best” way to handle this even for fivem, get such exposes instead of simply avoid that kind of things. Thats why i think, the best way is “communication” first & why i have created this topic here. And not to get some varoius answers / lessons from you into things & topics, that actually have nothing anymore to do with the real topic. (And i dont even know, where you take some curios informations from, wich you are talking about - but you can add sources to prove the facts you are talking about) Because you try explain things to me, wich we already know or even maybe know better after running a 200 people prime server over years. And accordingly, I am often only interested in advice from people who have achieved at least the same thing minimum. (Again nothing personal)
So maybe you dont get my point, because you have a different point of view on this. But in our case, we are into a “competition” because we dont running servers just as “small hobbys” (like you say as well) → We running servers fulltime. And we compare statistics, we make analysis & we work hard against such things, wich breake fair competitions like this.
Best regards 
So I think it should be important for fivem itself to avoid this kind of thing. Because when every server owner start doing so, because he see, that nothing happens against such servers. Than nobody would be interested in official upvotes powered by fivem. 10€ for 50 people instead of 600€ for 100 upvotes & your not even on first site with that. Sounds like a cheap way get better visibility for servers into the serverlist. And my example was just a “simple” explanation of what should be possible. FiveM have for sure ways to prevent that kind of advantage if they like. 
