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  • Not vetted for CNN

    • Click to view SadiqIslam's profile
    Posted February 21, 2009 by
    SadiqIslam
    Location
    Montreal, Quebec
    Assignment
    Assignment
    This iReport is part of an assignment:
    Growing pains for Twitter, Facebook?

    More iReports you should see

    Facebook's Automatic Approval System Tells Me that "Islam" is not an Acceptable Name

    By SadiqIslam  |  Posted February 21, 2009  |  Montreal, Quebec
     

    I am freaked out by how much power Facebook has accumulated.  After the recent news about the site trying to claim ownership of its users’ media content, I took down 500 or so pictures off my profile, and instead, saved a few copies on my hard drive.

     

    Now for another distrubing Facebook business practice. If your last is "Islam" (like me), well then, Facebook has something to say about it.                                                                               

    Two weeks ago, I changed my name to my mother's maiden name. Why did I do this? To keep it short, I am tired. Many people choose to fear who I am before they even get to know me.                                                                               

    My name is Sadiq Islam, and it always has been. I quickly started to miss the name my parents gave me. I felt a little ashamed of my actions, so I erased my recently adopted name, and then, typed “Islam” into the name field.

                                                                                    Once I clicked Enter, I was forwarded to a page with red text  stating my name change request was not approved and if I had an issue, to contact Facebook. So, the social networking site uses an automatic approval system that checks if your profile name is...well, not Islam!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    As a response, I messaged Facebook (twice) about my problems, and after two to three weeks, I have yet to receive a reply from the site.                                                                               

    Facebook can screen for inappropriate names, but to tell me that “Islam” is on a banned list is ridiculous! There must so many people named that. CNN Student Bureau did not seem to mind posting a report that I was involved with a few years ago. They did not turn me away because my name is Sadiq Islam!

                                                                                    Essentially, Facebook is discriminating against me based on no valid reasons- somebody make some noise please!

                                                                                    An update: FB changed my name back, and sent me the following email as a response to my question (Why are you rejecting my last?)

     

    from: Facebook Support <info+di2px22@facebook.com>

     

    Hi Sadiq,

     

    We apologize for any inconvenience. Please note that since it is a violation of Facebook's Terms of Use to create an account under fake names and informations, our system automatically detects names that are highly abused to create a fake account. This is a security measure in order to protect our users on our site. Your understanding and cooperation is very much appreciated once again.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Marissa

    User Operations

    Facebook

     

     

    -So, "Islam" is a "highly abused" name used to create "fake" account and/or I'm suspected for trying to create an account with "fake" name.

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