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Global coalition to Facebook: “Authentic names” are dangerous for your users

eff.org

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Re: Global coalition to Facebook: “Authentic names” are dangerous for your users

#4
post #2

Isn't it kinda obvious the long game of facebook is to become the single globally mandated identity service? Governments will contract with them to maintain your official citizen ID records. Game over.

I can't imagine the government mandating something like that. I haven't used Facebook in four years.

Re: Global coalition to Facebook: “Authentic names” are dangerous for your users

#6
I don't understand why people make anything of "real names" policies. They just want the users to have real looking names. They don't actually have any way to force real names. So it's a non-issue.

There's no oppressed person in a police state signing up for Facebook that reads a EULA and concludes "well, Facebook said I have to reveal my true identity, I guess that's the way it is."

Re: Global coalition to Facebook: “Authentic names” are dangerous for your users

#7
post #3

And in fact illegal in Germany and probably a hell lot of other places. I wonder if that gets enforced anytime soon.

I'm sincerely curious ... how is a social network like Facebook, which is built around connecting you with your real-world friends and acquaintances, supposed to work if you can't require users to identify themselves in a meaningful way?

The little "people you may know" widget is really useful, because it shows me names I recognize from my offline life. If it's just a random stream of pseudonyms and online handles, there's no way I can find my long-lost friends and former co-workers and classmates.

Re: Global coalition to Facebook: “Authentic names” are dangerous for your users

#8
post #2

Isn't it kinda obvious the long game of facebook is to become the single globally mandated identity service? Governments will contract with them to maintain your official citizen ID records. Game over.

I can't imagine the government mandating something like that. I haven't used Facebook in four years.

I can't, either, but it's an interesting thought in a twisted dystopian kind of way...

Re: Global coalition to Facebook: “Authentic names” are dangerous for your users

#9
I use Facebook as a developer using a completely fake but real looking identity. I have to have a developer account because of my job. Otherwise I wouldn't touch the site with someone else's bargepole.

Thank you http://www.fakenamegenerator.com

If that account gets blocked then I'll just have to create another fake one.

Re: Global coalition to Facebook: “Authentic names” are dangerous for your users

#10

I don't understand why people make anything of "real names" policies. They just want the users to have real looking names. They don't actually have any way to force real names. So it's a non-issue. There's no oppressed person in a police state signing up for Facebook that reads a EULA and concludes "well, Facebook said I have to reveal my true identity, I guess that's the way it is."

Did you read the post?
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