Facebook users to protest against ‘real name’ policy

Drag queens plan to lead a demonstration outside Facebook’s Silicon Valley headquarters on Monday, June 1, in response to the company’s “real name” policy. Facebook has repeatedly stated its opposition to anonymous users and has suspended accounts when people do not use their officially recognised names. The company has stated that a core element of its site is that it does not allow “anonymous” users stating that use of authentic names make people “more accountable.” But the policy has incited groups including drag queens, transgender people, domestic violence survivors and others, who do not use the names on their birth certificates, to come together against the policy as part of the #MyNameIs coalition. The groups behind #MyNameIs argue that they are targeted by malicious users who oppose their identity and behavior. Facebook has adjusted its policy to create a clearer appeals process for people whose accounts have been suspended, and loosened the requirements for people who want to use their “authentic name” instead of their legal name.

Read more on The Guardian.