In Germany, Facebook has been prevented from disallowing users to create accounts under false names, BBC News reports. The Hamburg data protection authority has said the social network cannot change individuals’ chosen usernames or ask them to provide official identification, the report states. The ruling follows a woman’s use of a pseudonym for her Facebook account “to avoid unsolicited contact in relation to her business” that the social networking site changed to her actual name. Facebook has expressed disappointment with the ruling. “The use of authentic names on Facebook protects people’s privacy and safety by ensuring people know who they’re sharing and connecting with,” the company said.
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