Facebook changes 'real name' policy

IN Media Watch Briefs | 31/10/2015

Responding to a public outcry and a global campaign by advocacy groups called the 'Nameless Coalition', Facebook announced changes in its 'real name' policy whereby users provide additional context to their chosen names and complainants against fake accounts give more robust information to ensure that trolls do not misuse the policy. In India, the deletion of the account of Malayalam writers Inji Pennu and Preetha G sparked the campaign. The policy also worked against members of the LGBT and Native American communities.

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Amazon resisting voluntary censorship

The new term for self censorship is voluntary censorship, as proposed by companies like Netflix and Hotstar. ET reports that streaming video service Amazon Prime is opposing a move by its peers to adopt a voluntary censorship code in anticipation of the Indian government coming up with its own rules. Amazon is resisting because it fears that it may alienate paying subscribers.

Let the games begin

Clearly, the run to the 2019 elections is on. A journalist received a call from someone saying they were from Aajtak channel and were conducting a survey, asking whom she was going to vote for in 2019. On being told that her vote was secret, the caller assumed she wasn't going to vote for 'Modiji'. The caller, a woman, also didn't identify herself. A month or two earlier the same journalist received a call, this time from a man, asking if she was going to vote for the BSP.