Protesters Rally Against ‘Fake Name’ Policy outside Facebook’s Headquarters

Around 50 to 100 protesters rallied outside Facebook's headquarters at the Menlo Park on Monday for the removal of the company's "fake name" policy.

The ragtag group protesters, which comprises of drag queens, Native Americans, and victims of abuse, have shown up at Facebook's HQ to insist the campaign #MyNameIs. The said protest began in San Francisco and headed down to Facebook campus in Menlo Park, NBC Bay Area reports.

Protesters voiced out their disapproval outside the "thumbs up" sign, draped in a rainbow banner, in front of the Silicon Valley company. Some held banners with the signs that read "My Name Is My Business" and "Facebook exposed me to my abuser."

The said rally is due to Facebook's "fake name" policy, which the protesters specifically want to be eliminated. In addition, the demonstrators request that the technology giant should stop asking users for government IDs and should create an appeals process because Facebook's customer service is non-existent.

Critics say the policy is unfair to transgender people and abuse victims that anybody can claim someone is using a fake name and report it to Facebook for investigation. "It's a tool that's being used by bullies and bigots to maliciously target and report people they find objectionable. People who've done nothing wrong expect to exercise their right to self identify," said Sister Roma, one of the organizers.

The issue of names was raised in October during a meeting between Transgender Law Center and Facebook, IB Times notes. Facebook has announced changes to its policy and has made several options to verify real names last year.

The company is already accepting documents like magazine subscription, utility bills and library cards to verify names. Users can also access their accounts for seven days before it will completely shut down. Facebook's chief product officer Chris Cox apologized for the issue and explained that Facebook doesn't require users to use their "legal" names, but their "authentic" names.

Even with the company's move to appease its users, the group of protestors aren't still satisfied with the service and said that Facebook is a "liar."

The company rationed snacks and bottled water for the protestors, courtesy of the Facebook LGBTQI Resource Group, SFist states. However, one of the demonstrators got dismayed when her cohorts took the snacks. "Jesus Christ, people! Haven't any of you heard of Persephone?," she said, referencing the mythological Greek heroine who was persuaded into the underworld with a few pomegranate seeds.

Sister Roma went on to urge the LGBT community inside the company to stand up for their community.