Recently, Facebook earned criticism for blocking drag performers' profiles due to so-called security concerns, compromising the performers' anonymity and ability to promote themselves. Now, they are blocking Native Americans' profiles because their real names supposedly don't sound "American" enough to be real.
In one case, Facebook mistook Lakota woman Dana Lone Hill's name for a fake one and forced her to submit identification before restoring her profile. Another Native American user, Oglala Lakota Lance Brown Eyes, had the same problem.
As long as they aren't impersonating someone else or harassing someone, people should be able to live privately and use a pseudonym on Facebook if desired. But blocking people for using their real names, just because those names sound fake to Facebook staff, is ridiculous and discriminatory. Please sign the petition to urge Facebook to stop blocking Natives' profiles.
We, the undersigned, are concerned with several recent incidents in which your company blocked Native American users for having supposedly fake-sounding names.
In one case, Facebook mistook Lakota woman Dana Lone Hill's real name for a fake one and forced her to submit identification before restoring her profile. Another Native American user, Oglala Lakota Lance Brown Eyes, had the same problem.
As long as they aren't impersonating someone else or harassing someone, people should be able to live privately and use a pseudonym on Facebook if desired. But blocking people for using their real names, just because those names sound fake to Facebook staff, is ridiculous and discriminatory. We urge urge you to stop blocking Natives' profiles. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.
