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A Ethiopian activist was blocked on Facebook due to pseudonym
Facebook’s ‘real names’ policy is coming under fire again: an Ethiopian LGBTI activist had his account blocked Friday for having a false name.
‘HappyAddis’ checked his account Friday morning, only to discover he’d been blocked due to Facebook’s ‘real names’ policy.
The policy, which requires users to have their real name for security reasons, has been criticised before by drag queens who use Facebook to advertise their personalities.
The activist used the pseudonym to create and administrate LGBTI groups in Ethiopia, where homosexuality is a crime and can lead to a 15-year prison sentence.
A spokesperson for Facebook told Time.com that users in HappyAddis’s situation have two options: they can either use a secret Facebook group, or a different social networking site.
However, HappyAddis said this was not an option. He cannot use his real name given the threat of violence – as he would have to on a secret group – and Facebook is the most popular medium to reach other LGBTI Ethiopians.
The issue is affecting other Ethiopians who have developed a community online; none of these individuals can use their real names in case of violence.
The LGBTI groups provide much needed outreach, HappyAddis says. ‘I made this group 5 years ago. That’s where people come to seek information, seek advice, seek counseling from other people,’ he said.
‘There’s no free press, even political activists have a hard time connecting to each other. For the gay community [Facebook] is much more important.
‘There’s no [other] way to get in touch with other gay people in Ethiopia.’
The post A Ethiopian activist was blocked on Facebook due to pseudonym appeared first on Gay Star News.
Jack Flanagan
www.gaystarnews.com/article/a-ethiopian-activist-was-blocked-on-facebook-due-to-pseudonym/
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