Categories: Science & Technology

Facebook Real Name Policy Amended after Protests

Facebook has announced it is to amend its controversial “real name” policy after protests from various communities.

On December 15, Facebook said it was to test new tools that allowed people to share any special circumstances they felt meant they could not use their real name.

The tool is intended to help people who may have suffered domestic abuse, or in cases where their s**uality could put them in danger.

However, Facebook stood firm on insisting people use “real names” in all but the most unusual situations.

“We require people to use the name their friends and family know them by,” the company said.

Photo Facebook

“When people use the names they are known by, their actions and words carry more weight because they are more accountable for what they say.

“We’re firmly committed to this policy, and it is not changing.

“However, after hearing feedback from our community, we recognize that it’s also important that this policy works for everyone, especially for communities who are marginalized or face discrimination.”

Facebook is also adding a new tool for reporting fake names, requiring anyone who is reporting another user to provide more context for their complaint.

The social network said it received hundreds of thousands of reports of fake names every week.

“In the past, people were able to simply report a <<fake name>> but now they will be required to go through several new steps that provide us more specifics about the report,” the company said.

“This additional context will help our review teams better understand why someone is reporting a name, giving them more information about a specific situation.”

Facebook had faced intense pressure from rights groups over its hard-line stance on real names.

Mark Zuckerberg was heavily criticised after he suggested that people that use two names, or have an alias, showed a “lack of integrity”.

In 2014, prominent drag queens in San Francisco had their Facebook accounts deleted as they were deemed to be violating the real name policy.

After considerable uproar, including a planned protest outside Facebook’s headquarters, the company acknowledged that it had been a mistake to delete the accounts, but said it faced a challenge in verifying people on the network.

It argued that insisting on real names played a role in preventing bad actors on the site has it made people more accountable for what they posted.

“The stories of mass impersonation, trolling, domestic abuse, and higher rates of bullying and intolerance are oftentimes the result of people hiding behind fake names, and it’s both terrifying and sad,” the site said.

“Our ability to successfully protect against them with this policy has borne out the reality that this policy, on balance, and when applied carefully, is a very powerful force for good.”

A group of civil liberties organizations and rights groups formed the Nameless Coalition which has been leaning on Facebook to change its policies.

The new tools announced on December 15 fall short of the group’s complete suggestions, but representatives from Facebook are met members of the Nameless Coalition at a public event in San Francisco.

Nancy Clayson

Nancy is a young, full of life lady who joined the team shortly after the BelleNews site started to run. She is focused on bringing up to light all the latest news from the technology industry. In her opinion the hi-tech expresses the humanity intellectual level. Nancy is an active person; she enjoys sports and delights herself in doing gardening in her spare time, as well as reading, always searching for new topics for her articles.

Recent Posts

Donald Trump and Elon Musk Celebrate Election Victory at UFC 309

Image source: Wikimedia Commons President-elect Donald Trump celebrated his election victory at the Ultimate Fighting…

5 days ago

White House 2024: Donald Trump Wins, Kamala Harris Calls Him to Concede Election

Millions of voters across the US chose to return Donald Trump to the White House…

2 weeks ago

Who Won? Donald Trump Declares Victory as He Addresses Jubilant Supporters in Florida

Donald Trump declares victory in the US election as he addresses jubilant supporters in Florida.…

2 weeks ago

Stocks Soaring as Donald Trump Closes in on US Victory

Stocks around the world are rising as Donald Trump appears to be on the cusp…

2 weeks ago

Who Won? Kamala Harris Cancels Election Night Party as Path to Victory Narrows

Donald Trump has won Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia and taken a lead over Kamala…

2 weeks ago

Quincy Jones Dead at 91

Quincy Jones, the celebrated musician and producer who worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ray…

2 weeks ago