Facebook, as part of its corporate philosophy, requires that users register only with their true name. Although this policy is not an issue for most using the service, it can occasionally cause issues. Case and point: the Facebook page belonging to famous author Salman Rushdie was deleted when Facebook had doubts over its authenticity. How do you prove who you are in the online world? Rushdie was required to send a copy of his passport to Facebook, as is stated in their terms of use. After receiving the information, Facebook reinstated the page, albeit with a twist. Facebook changed the account’s name to match the passport’s name of Ahmed Rushdie (Salman is his middle name). Rushdie fought back by ridiculing Facebook on Twitter and asking his followers to do the same. Later that same day, Facebook relented and reverted the page back to its original format.
This Salman Rushdie fiasco can actually be seen as somewhat of an aberration in that most people lack the resources to embarrass a corporation like Facebook into allowing an even slightly altered online persona. Leaving aside the irony of using Twitter, a social media site that allows pseudonyms, to force Facebook to restore Rushdie’s Facebook page, the significance of this episode is the attention it drew to the ongoing debate over identity on the internet. The internet has a long tradition of anonymity, a state of affairs that has both advantages and disadvantages. The ability to act without an established identity removes inhibitions of social norms for behavior, but also can provide a measure of safety to present unpopular ideas and to organize unpopular activities without fear of repercussion. In fact, the US Supreme Court values the ability to remain anonymous, since Justice Stevens once wrote that “[a]nonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority.”
As the internet has become central to the operation of the economy and society at large, pressures have grown to link online identities to real world persons. Linking one’s online activity to real-world identity could lead to a more integrated experience and efficient coordination with various web sites. The potential downsides to linking include the loss of freedom and, in some situations, safety risks.
“The significance of this episode is the attention it drew to the ongoing debate over identity on the internet.”
Facebook itself has striven to become one of the hubs of online identity by allowing its users to sign in to over 7 million different applications and websites with their Facebook name and password. Such integration is viewed favorably by most in the business community who see the advantages of being able to gather information on customers and target their needs with selective content and advertisements. On the other hand, privacy advocacy groups are fighting for the ability to remain anonymous on the internet. The intense debate over the issue has led Google to announce that it will allow pseudonyms on its competing service, Google+.
The debate over online identity and privacy will likely continues to be a hot topic, and the developing policies of Facebook and Google+ bear watching as an indicator of the status of the battle.
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