Germany will fine Facebook if it doesn't stop demanding real names online.

CalmOceans

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20766682

"A German data protection body has ordered Facebook to end its policy of making members use their real names.

The policy violates German laws that give people the right to use pseudonyms online, said the data protection agency in Schleswig-Holstein.

Facebook said it would fight the decree "vigorously" and that its naming policy met European data protection rules.

"It is unacceptable that a US portal like Facebook violates German data protection law unopposed and with no prospect of an end," said Thilo Weichert, head of the regional data protection office in Schleswig Holstein, in a statement."

 

 

I hope Facebook loses, being anonymous online is a right, not a privilege. It's bad enough people get harrassed without showing their name online, why would I open myself up more just to be harassed some more? Why do you need to know my RL name unless it's to harass me? Why isn't my basic info enough, why do you even need to know that to begin with?

There is some hypocricy I would agree with, which would argue that you shouldn't be on facebook if you want to remain anonymous, but I don't agree that individual sites should be making policies regarding anonymity. Same thing with Google, why is it asking my name constantly.

Zindaihas

What's to stop you from using a fake name anyway?  They don't make you verify your name by mailing them your phone bill, do they?

CalmOceans

Originally posted by Zindaihas
What's to stop you from using a fake name anyway?  They don't make you verify your name by mailing them your phone bill, do they?

I don't know how Facebook does it, since I don't use it.

But I know that Youtube knows if I use a real or fake name. My account on Youtube is called like BackupChannels or something (I log in with my mail so I don't know the exact name), but Google keeps asking me every few weeks to use my real name, and the window to get out of it is hidden behind questions and it even asks a reason why I do not want to use my own name.

The fact these sites to to these lengths to get your real name is reason enough for me that someone should say "hey, what do you think you're doing?"

StonesDK

Facebook is a service not a right

Elikal

Originally posted by Starpower
Facebook is a service not a right

Wrong, law always tops TOS.

Example: the surpreme European Court decided recently, that companies selling software online MUST allow cusomers to resell them. Like Steam. No matter what their TOS said, people have the RIGHT to re-sell their games.

German law clearly says that an online service must allow anonymity. I fear only the penalities of German law are waaaay to low. It's not like the US penalities where you can sue a company for millions and more.

spizz

Originally posted by Zindaihas
What's to stop you from using a fake name anyway?  They don't make you verify your name by mailing them your phone bill, do they?

Some got banned using pseudonyms. I would never join any social network with a real name, especially not facebook aka spybook.

 

But do you know what is even worse...audio surveilance in public buses 

http://rt.com/usa/news/us-public-transport-security-817/

 

 

Acutally, germany is one of those countries which have rights for individuals based on a law beyond corporations and the market. They have strong laws about privacy, they even did refuse google maps street view, it sounds bad at first but its actually good that huge corps cant always succeed. Privacy is actually freedom aswell and we should not live in a police state.

Elikal

Originally posted by spizz

Originally posted by Zindaihas
What's to stop you from using a fake name anyway?  They don't make you verify your name by mailing them your phone bill, do they?

Some got banned using pseudonyms. I would never join any social network with a real name, especially not facebook aka spybook.

 

But do you know what is even worse...audio surveilance in public buses 

http://rt.com/usa/news/us-public-transport-security-817/

 

 

Acutally, germany is one of those countries which have rights for individuals based on a law beyond corporations and the market. They have strong laws about privacy, they even did refuse google maps street view, it sounds bad at first but its actually good that huge corps cant always succeed. Privacy is actually freedom aswell and we should not live in a police state.

Funny, eh, how people who would not tell the government even the street they live in tell ALL about them to private companies.

Barrikor

The pot calling the kettle black...

http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/Germany_to_allow_computer_virus_attacks_by_police-nid-41242-cid-2.html

Yeah, they're real big on privacy... except where Government is concerned...

(Of course the FBI in the USA does this too, to a limited amount)

spizz

Originally posted by Elikal

Originally posted by spizz

Originally posted by Zindaihas
What's to stop you from using a fake name anyway?  They don't make you verify your name by mailing them your phone bill, do they?

Some got banned using pseudonyms. I would never join any social network with a real name, especially not facebook aka spybook.

 

But do you know what is even worse...audio surveilance in public buses 

http://rt.com/usa/news/us-public-transport-security-817/

 

 

Acutally, germany is one of those countries which have rights for individuals based on a law beyond corporations and the market. They have strong laws about privacy, they even did refuse google maps street view, it sounds bad at first but its actually good that huge corps cant always succeed. Privacy is actually freedom aswell and we should not live in a police state.

Funny, eh, how people who would not tell the government even the street they live in tell ALL about them to private companies.

I have my doubts that this is the same clientele, when you talk about social networks online as private companies. There were only ~250.000 people (wiki) in germany who did file an application for pixelation. I guess google street view did stop their engagement since it was too costly for them to consider individual demands of privacy and it was not a legal prohibition like I first thought and wrote.

Squishydew

I dont personally use facebook, and they can have my real name, i dont care - As long as they let me cover it up with a nickname so others cant see, thats fine to me, if you can't do that, this is horrible.

 

What I'm pissed off about is youtube wanting it, a lot of people go by nicknames on their channel as do i, yet youtube keeps asking me to use my real name, if I where to switch now I'd in a way lose the "Brand" that I've marked myself with, because Thats what it becomes after a few years, It's what you're recognised by.

They already have my real name - I don't care that they do, but why does my channel have to use it? Seriously youtube, whats your problem x.x? Stop nagging me already.