Empowered

One Win For The Pagan Side!

Back on August 20th I shared news about the Facebook name policy targeting Pagan names and causing havoc for those members.

Here’s a short recap:
Facebook has made a policy that allows any user to report another member because they do not like their name or think the name is being used to bullying others or is fake. However this policy is being used as a weapon by cyber bullies and religious terrorists to harass and intimidate minorities. This happened to me this week.

All it takes is for someone who doesn’t like you, your name or the content of your page to send Facebook a report about your displayed name making an accusation that it’s fake and your account is suspended. No double checking, no review of your page or content, no contacting you first. Your account is suspended until you can prove you are who you say you are.

According to the Facebook Name Confirmation policy:
Two different forms of ID from the list below. The names on your IDs must match each other. One of the IDs must include a photo OR date of birth that matches the information on your Facebook profile so that we can make sure you’re the rightful owner of your account.

The list includes about 15 or so forms of ID that can be provided. So you have a lot to choose from. You need to include a government issued ID. And I wasn’t about to give FB more private information about me than they already have. So an “official” ID wasn’t going to happen. It shouldn’t have to happen! Continue reading →

Lady Spring Wolf – 06.2015

Help Fight Discrimination on Facebook!

Facebook has made a policy that allows any user to report another member because they do not like their name or think the name is being used to bullying others or is fake. However this policy is being used as a weapon by cyber bullies and religious terrorists to harass and intimidate minorities. This happened to me this week.

All it takes is for someone who doesn’t like you, your name or the content of your page to send Facebook a report about your displayed name making an accusation that it’s fake and your account is suspended. No double checking, no review of your page or content, no contacting you first. Your account is suspended until you can prove you are who you say you are.

Update: 08.22 – 4:50pm Eastern
This afternoon FB responded to an email I submitted concerning this issue. They are asking for additional ID information. I’ve provided 3 forms of ID already. So I sent them an image of the cover of my book and demanded my page be reinstated.

In the meantime we have converted one of our FB administration accounts to serve as what we hope is a temporary FB page for Spring. You’ll find her at:  facebook.com/RevSpringwolf.

Update 08.26 – I’m back!  One Win For The Pagan Side!

In February 2015 Steve Dent  wrote in “Native Americans still battling Facebook over ‘real name’ policy.”:
Facebook itself doesn’t pore through names to check authenticity. Instead, the reports often come in bunches from users targeting minorities, making Facebook an unwitting party to discrimination. Continue reading →