Facebook's Absurd Pseudonym Purgatory

An anonymous reader sends a story from a writer whose Facebook account was locked because somebody reported it as using a pseudonym. It doesn't, but Facebook demands a look at identification documents before releasing control over the account. Anyone whose name doesn't sound "real" to Facebook is at risk for this, and the social network doesn't even have a consistent stance on what an "authentic" name is. "Aside from the complexity of identity, the policy is haphazardly enforced at best. At worst, it’s dangerous and discriminatory, and has demonstrably and repeatedly been used to target people who often already are marginalized and vulnerable." Matt Cagle, attorney for the ACLU, says, "By controlling the identity of the speaker with this policy, Facebook has the effect of both reducing speech and eliminating speakers from the platform altogether. This is a particularly concerning move to the ACLU because forums like Facebook serve as the modern-day equivalent of the public square for a lot of communities.

Comments

Re:At the risk of getting downvoted into oblivion.

[PopeRatzo]

I can stand up in any public square the US and give my opinion of whatever topic I want to. I don't have to provide my name to do so.I don't have to show my papers.

None of that has anything to do with "anonymity".

If you come into the public square and start to holler about how black people need to die because they're raping all the white women and taking over the country, people will remember your face, I guarantee. And when you come back tomorrow, someone will recognize you as the Dylann Roof-acting motherfucker. They don't need to know your name, or see your papers to know who you are.

Unless you have a hood over your face, of course, which I suppose is possible in certain parts of the US.

See, facial recognition has been around for as long as people have been around. Your anonymity in the public square goes as far as the extent of peoples' ability to remember your face.