Nymwars
[UNDER CONSTRUCTION] Nymwars (sometimes written as Nym wars) is a debate about the requirement of real-names and the elimination of anonymity/pseudonymity in social networking sites. While this discussion was primarily spurred by Google+'s real-name policy, other sites are also disallowing pseudonymity such as National Geographic's scienceblogs.com [1]
Contents
Overview
Google+ is Google's latest attempt at social network. It was released as invite-only on June 28, 2011 and to the public on September 20, 2011. Under a month later, early adopters who originally praised praised Google+, were criticizing its policies due to an increase in the number of people being banned for signing up under assumed names.[2] Affected users fell into many different categories. Users' accounts were deleted for pseudonyms, unconventional names, mixed-language names, nicknames, and even people with common names. When asked to comment on the situation, a Google spokeswoman wrote in an email: "By providing your common name, you will be assisting all people you know -- friends, family members, classmates, co-workers, and other acquaintances -- in finding and creating a connection with the right person online." Google+'s profiles were meant to "help connect and find real people in the real world" she stated. [3]
Even a notable former Google employee, Kirrily Robert, who is more commonly known as Skud, was suspended for using her nickname. [2]
Google's Stance
Google's stance on (application of) real-name systems has changed through the years.
2007-2009
In 2007, South Korea became the first country to establish a real-name system, as mandated by the Korea Communications Commission through the Article 44-5 of the Act on the Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilisation and Information Protection, also known as the Network Act. This system would require users to confirm their identity before being allowed to comment or uploaded on websites. [4] KCC officials wrote this act because they believed this would "curb `cyber bullying and reduce misinformation on the Internet". [5]
In 2008, they revised the Network Act, lowering the number of visitors required to qualify for the system from 200,000 (internet jounrnals) and 300,000 (portals) visits per day, to 100,000 visits per day.[4] These changes would take place on April 1st, 2009 and would affect users of Youtube Korea, which is owned by Google.[5] However, Google ultimately refused to cooperate with these regulations. Google shutdown some of Youtube Korea's functions in order to to avoid Korea's real-name system. A notice on the website said: “YouTube has decided to restrict its video upload and comment functions in South Korea.” It also stated, “Because there is no upload function, users won’t be required to confirm their identification.” [6]
Even though this limited the functionality of Youtube Korea, this allowed Google to maintains its mission to provide universal access to information. Rachel Whetstone, vice president of Global Communications & Public Affairs at Google, offered an explanation of the shutdown of services in another notice on Youtube Korea's website. The statement was titled “Freedom of Expression on the Internet." Whetstone stated that, “Google thinks the freedom of expression is most important value to uphold on the internet. We concluded in the end that it is impossible to provide benefits to internet users while observing this country’s law because the law does not fall in line with Google’s principles.”[6]
2011
A few years later, Google explicitly stated its stance on the use of anonymity, pseudonymity and the use of real-world identifies. In February 2011, Alma Whitten, the Director of Privacy, Product and Engineeringm at Google, made a blog post about the importance of allowing users to be who they want to be, whether that means using your real name (identified), a pseudonym (pseudonymous) or anonymous (unidentified). However, Google makes it clear that not all of its products are suited for all three of these modes; some may only allow one or two modes. [7]
Google+ was soon released a few months later. In its User Content and Conduct Policy, it stated, "to help fight spam and prevent fake profiles, use the name your friends, family or co-workers usually call you. For example, if your full legal name is Charles Jones Jr. but you normally use Chuck Jones or Junior Jones, either of those would be acceptable." [8]
Trascript https://plus.google.com/117378076401635777570/posts/2y7vqXBtLny
Criticism
Fight for anonymity/pseudonymity
Banning is extremely subjective.
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/google_plus_bans_creator_of_firefox_for_using_his.php
Getting G+ account suspended, also affects your other Google accounts http://infotrope.net/2011/08/04/google-plus-names-policy-explained/
Future Implications
NSTIC strategy - White House http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/NSTICstrategy_041511.pdf
External Links
http://www.feedingedge.co.uk/blog/2011/08/29/expiranting-on-nymwars-with-avatar-kinect/
See Also
References
- ↑ Campbell, Hank (2011-08-18). Update: National Geographic Ends Anonymous Accounts At Scienceblogs.com. Science20. Retrieved 2011-09-31.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Gross, Doug (2011-07-25). Users with fake names get boot from Google Plus. CNN. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
- ↑ Perez, Juan Carlos (2011-07-25). Update: Complaints mount over Google+ account deletions. Computerworld. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Oh, Byoungil (2009). Republic of Korea. GISWatch. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Tong-hyung, Kim (2009-03-30). YouTube User Needs Real-Name. Korea Times. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Google refuses South Korean government’s real-name system. The Hankyoreh. 2009-04-10. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
- ↑ Whitten, Alma (2011-2-24). The freedom to be who you want to be… Google Public Policy Blog. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
- ↑ User Content and Conduct Policy. Google. 2011-6-28. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
