This one comes with a twist. Here, Facebook does not per se intrude TelCo territory but its activities are compared with one, with greater advantage.
Recently, a Chinese activist and blogger who goes with an alias “Anti” was deprived of his Facebook account by Facebook administrators. Facebook justified the cancellation of account by saying that it is in accordance with the social network’s “real name culture.” According to this culture, Facebook urges every user to use their legal names in their personal accounts.
Anti’s outrage was fired further as Facebook founder created an account for his dog “Beast.” Anti points out that his journalistic work and academic work as an activist is more real than a dog to merit a Facebook account.
In this issue, Facebook is seen in almost equal footing with TelCo, if not in an advantage, by requiring each user/subscriber to reveal their real and legal identities before they can benefit from the network’s services.
In the Philippines, prepaid subscribers of TelCos providing mobile phone services do not even require their subscribers to reveal their legal identities before they can avail of the services. Only postpaid subscribers are required to do so. This practice has enabled rampant crimes committed using mobile phone communications.
Facebook today shows it can go a step farther everyday. It says it can regulate the use of its network better than our local TelCos. It’s impliedly saying that it is capable of curbing anonymity as traditionally enjoyed by web bloggers. It’s shouting out loud that it can dictate internet culture as it sees fit. Although this regulation may mean less abusive use of the network, I can't help but be concerned about the concept of worldwide regulation (about 600 million people) revolving around the hands of a very few individuals. Hey, this is a bit alarming…
Recently, a Chinese activist and blogger who goes with an alias “Anti” was deprived of his Facebook account by Facebook administrators. Facebook justified the cancellation of account by saying that it is in accordance with the social network’s “real name culture.” According to this culture, Facebook urges every user to use their legal names in their personal accounts.
Anti’s outrage was fired further as Facebook founder created an account for his dog “Beast.” Anti points out that his journalistic work and academic work as an activist is more real than a dog to merit a Facebook account.
In this issue, Facebook is seen in almost equal footing with TelCo, if not in an advantage, by requiring each user/subscriber to reveal their real and legal identities before they can benefit from the network’s services.
In the Philippines, prepaid subscribers of TelCos providing mobile phone services do not even require their subscribers to reveal their legal identities before they can avail of the services. Only postpaid subscribers are required to do so. This practice has enabled rampant crimes committed using mobile phone communications.
Facebook today shows it can go a step farther everyday. It says it can regulate the use of its network better than our local TelCos. It’s impliedly saying that it is capable of curbing anonymity as traditionally enjoyed by web bloggers. It’s shouting out loud that it can dictate internet culture as it sees fit. Although this regulation may mean less abusive use of the network, I can't help but be concerned about the concept of worldwide regulation (about 600 million people) revolving around the hands of a very few individuals. Hey, this is a bit alarming…
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110309/ap_on_hi_te/as_china_facebook;
Blog Entry No. 16
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