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EFF Joins Nameless Coalition and Demands Facebook Kills Its Real Names Policy

Posted by samzenpus on from the he-who-must-not-be-named dept.

Mark Wilson writes: Facebook has seen heavy criticism for its real names (or 'authentic identities' as they are known to the social network) policy. Over the last year, all manner of rights groups and advocates have tried to convince Facebook to allow users to drop their real name in favor of a pseudonym if they want. Now the Electronic Frontier Foundation is part of the 74-member strong Nameless Coalition and has written to Facebook demanding a rethink on the ground of safety, privacy, and equality. This is far from being the first time Facebook has been called on to allow the use of 'fake names', and the latest letter is signed by LGBT groups, freedom advocates, privacy supporters, and feminist organizations.

14 of 232 comments (clear)

  1. Make money off this? by Roodvlees · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The best argument for Facebook will be if there's a way to make money off fake names.

    --
    Thank you, Bradley Manning, Edward Snowden and so many others, for courageously defending humanity, my freedom and more!
  2. How about if you don't like a service AVOID IT? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If Facebook wants to require real names, fine by me, I don't have to use the service...

  3. Does the real name policy curb trolling? by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 2

    There is no magic bullet but didn't the real name policy with G+ and then linking to YouTube actually curb trolling on YouTube? As for real names on Facebook, if you joined Facebook then you have already surrendered your privacy.

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    1. Re:Does the real name policy curb trolling? by Brulath · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Perhaps, but imagine for a moment that you're an LGBT (or otherwise marginalised) teen living in a fairly hostile community. You'd want to reach out and communicate with people who could empathise, but wouldn't want to reveal your identity lest it lead to retribution. Not requiring a real name would allow them to reach out in a safer manner on that particular platform.

      That isn't just restricted to LGBT people, either. Anyone with a condition or history who wanted to communicate about it without linking it to them in a way family/friends/employers might find out about could benefit from a lack of real name requirements. Bullies would benefit too, however, so it's a double edged sword.

    2. Re:Does the real name policy curb trolling? by Intrepid+imaginaut · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Real names are far more useful to bullies than otherwise as they allow bullies to track people over multiple platforms, find their phone numbers, place of work, even track them right to their front doors. A real names policy does little to stop trolls either, they just register a burner account and troll until they get kicked off, it's not hard to do.

      I'm solidly in favour of this EFF petition and I hope everyone signs, like it or not facebook is the de facto means of mass communication on the internet for most people today. They already have way too much power and have proven themselves more than happy to abuse that power in ways that would have gotten an accountable entity shut down hard, any moves to curb their influence and reach must be supported.

    3. Re:Does the real name policy curb trolling? by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 2

      I'm not a LGBT but I am a MLPF. Fluttershy! Yay!

  4. Re: They demanded my ID and power bill by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I used Facebbok nearly every day for over six years until they demanded a copy of my passport. I don't know why they suddenly wanted to stop making money off of me. That's a dumb business plan.

  5. People are missing the point. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Facebook is a private service. Stop using and treating it like a public square.

  6. Re:Facebook SHOULD require real names by randalware · · Score: 4, Informative

    I never use my real name online.

    I do not harass or abuse people.
                      (excepting lawyers, trolls, politicians, religious nuts, math failures & the RIAA)
    No one needs their life judged by the internet community.
    Or their identity stolen.

    Been on Facebook about 5 years without a real name.
    When they demand one, I will just sign up under another non-real alias.
    Or discontinue it entirely

    --
    This is my opinion based on what little I know and understand of the rumors and lies Thanks, Randal
  7. Big secret: you don't need Facebook by GeekWithAKnife · · Score: 2


    Why are these groups constantly pandering to Facebook to change its rulership of willing victims?

    Facebook is replaceable, Facebook is unnecessary and Facebook is not really social it is commercial.

    This "social network" only helps large groups alienate people on a wider and constant scale. School bullying is only enhanced, stalking empowered and invasive misuse of information that can affect you long term by your employer, the government etc.

    Using you real name is not protecting you. Making someone else use his real name does not protect you from them by being "accountable" that's hogwash.

    Instead of trying to fix and make MySpace better what did we do? we moved one! -now many more people are realizing what Facebook is and now it's time to move on.


    So many people have hundreds of Facebook friends and they do not even know who their neighbour is. Social my ass.

    --
    A 'singular oddity' is an event that cannot be explained and only happens when you are alone.
  8. Real Names are Necessary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Real Names are necessary to help support Facebook's customers.

    Facebook has an obligation to their customers to supply them with clean data. They pay Facebook money to help them target the exact people that they are looking for.
    https://www.facebook.com/busin...

    You are not their customer. You are Facebook's Product. You are giving Facebook huge volumes of data, personal data, etc. about you in exchange for Facebook allowing you to communicate with friends and family easily.

  9. Making money off real names by Etherwalk · · Score: 2

    they may be making more money off real names. If you were facebook, you'd be insane not to have intelligence contracts.

  10. Re:They demanded my ID and power bill by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I can talk on Skype for 3 hours (Hi, Mom!) and still have 40-50% charge left. Maybe you just need a new battery?

    --
    Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
  11. Re:Facebook SHOULD require real names by Panoptes · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "There is no valid reason for demanding pseudonymity except you have something to hide and are up to no good."

    So George Eliot, George Orwell, Anatole France, Anthony Burgess, C S Forester, Daniel Defoe, Ford Madox Ford, George Sand, Boz, John le Carre and Joseph Conrad - and many, many more writers - were 'up to no good'?

    And you posted as 'Anonymous Coward'. Need I say more?