Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Libya: Activists ask Facebook to anonymity

Facebook: the center of the protest movement. - © accessnow.org

To organize their movement and to reach the masses on the web, they use - if available - preferably, the world's largest social network. has recorded since the outgoing wave of protests from Egypt and Libya, but they are increasingly confronted with violence. From Fear of political persecution ask the user to Preserve their anonymity in the network. Facebook's rules, thus allowing the use of the platform just stating their true identity. Therefore, they call on the portal: "Entfreundet the dictators!".

In the role of protest network Facebook also been practiced in moderation. The operators of the community take care not just in political conflict situations before, to take sides. Under the leadership of the "global movement for digital freedom" Access Now ask the demonstrators Facebook but about their own guidelines to reconsider - if possible, to protect life. They want to access the portal without having to specify an identity that is in gross contradiction to Facebook's existing user policy.

Facebook as a "treasure trove of dictators'

The activists at Access Now assume that supporters of the democracy movement in the crisis regions due to the existing Facebook rules come to the attention of autocratic governments. The nonprofit Organization, the platform is not only a revolutionary tool to catalyze political change. In addition, Facebook is a "treasure trove of dictators," which allows them to track and identify their opponents.

Although there is a real opportunity to simply not use Facebook and others - anonymous - channels to avoid the social web. Thus, users can log in to Twitter with pseudonyms and use forums or blogs without identification requirement for the members. Facebook has taken to now, however, a central role in global communications Writes Cnet. Not without reason is the portal along with its mass Community at the heart of the protest movement on the Web. It serves not only as the activists organizing tool but also as a medium for reporting to the rest of the world.