Facebook Product Chief Chris Cox Apologizes For Real-Name Policy

Facebook, Inc. apologized yesterday for its real-name policy that offended transgender and drag queen users who were unable to use gender-bending names in their profiles. Facebook product chief Chris Cox posted a status update that reflected his remorse over offending members of the LGBT community and their supports and also clarified the company’s stance on the policy, which will apparently remain in effect.

According to Cox, a single Facebook user was responsible for flagging the names of several people for using false names, but many of them were using names that were accepted by their peers in the LGBT community and in their daily lives, albeit not their legal names. Facebook then required those users to submit some form of identification showing their real names.

Cox went on to say that despite the stringent appearance of the policy, Facebook did not intend to require only legal names but rather any name a person went by in real life. Cox then defended the spirit of the policy, which he argued was designed to root out trolls and other miscreants. He said that Facebook is working to resolve any disputes over names and that it would work to do a better job of authenticating drag queens and others who use opposite or former gender names. He did not, however, specify what those changes would be or how long it would take.

When Facebook came under fire for its real-name policy, many users who supported the LGBT cause signed up for Ello, a Facebook competitor, causing the site to enjoy a large influx in membership. Time will tell if this apology wins back those disgruntled users.

photo credit: Martijn Crowe via photopin cc