Does Facebook's 'real name' policy really protect its users?
Facebook's 'real name' policy requires users to register with the name given on federal IDs or credit cards, a rule that opponents say could harm user safety, even as supporters argue that it will help.
In this Dec. 13, 2011 file photo, a sign with Facebook's "Like" logo is posted at Facebook headquarters near the office for the company's User Operations Safety Team in Menlo Park, Calif.
Paul Sakuma/AP
Those who have changed their names socially but not legally may soon have an easier time on Facebook.聽
The social network announced Sunsay that in December it will roll out an improved "real name policy."聽 requires Facebook users to go by their 鈥渁uthentic name鈥� on the social network, verified by a government-issued ID or credit card. Other Facebook users can report accounts that they feel have fake names, causing the accused users to be locked out of their account.聽
, opponents to the policy, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Human Rights Watch, the Gay-Straight Alliance Network, and the Electric Frontier Foundation, wrote to Facebook on behalf of transgender people 鈥渨hose legal names don鈥檛 accord with their gender identify,鈥� people who use a pseudonym 鈥渋n order to protect themselves from physical violence,鈥� and people who don鈥檛 fit Facebook鈥檚 鈥渁rbitrary standards of 鈥榬eal names鈥欌�� such as native Americans and other ethnic minorities.聽
To counter rising criticism, Facebook鈥檚 new policy will include two changes. First, users will be able to explain their name choice if it does not correspond to their identification documents. 鈥淭his should help our Community Operations team ,鈥� Alex Schultz, Facebook鈥檚 Vice President of Growth, said in an announcement. 鈥淚t will also help us better understand the reasons why people can鈥檛 currently confirm their name, informing potential changes we make in the future.鈥澛�
Secondly, those who report accounts with "fake names" will have to provide context to defend their complaint. Opponents of the policy have argued that users sometimes abuse the reporting process.
Those who oppose the current policy have used the to voice their continued frustration and to organize protests and rallies across the country.
鈥淓ven though Facebook claims it has improved its policy, users , losing access to support groups, an essential political platform, and all their contacts and content,鈥� the campaign wrote on a signature petition for the Nameless Coalition.
鈥淚鈥檝e been Sister Roma for 27 years,鈥澛犅爐old Ars Technica last year. 鈥淚f you ask anyone my name, in or out of drag, they will tell you it鈥檚 Roma. Is it the name on my driver鈥檚 license? No. But it is my name.鈥� Roma was locked out of her account, and forced to change her profile name to her legal name Michael Williams.
But both sides of the argument insist they are acting in the best interests of users who have been bullied and discriminated against. 聽聽
鈥淲e require people to provide the name they use in real life; that way, you always know who you鈥檙e connecting with,鈥� explains Facebook . 鈥淭his helps keep our community safe.鈥�
In July Facebook鈥檚 CEO and Founder Mark Zuckerberg defended the policy, saying, 鈥淲e know people are to try to act abusively towards other members of our community when they鈥檙e using their real names.鈥� from 2014 supports Zuckerberg鈥檚 claim, proving that 鈥渉alf of those who have experienced online harassment did not know the person involved in their most recent incident.鈥�