"Facebook's changes are welcome and they will make it harder for people to discriminate against vulnerable users," Micek told Motherboard in an email. "Our 24-hour digital security helpline has received cases showing the old policy and its implementation harms human rights defenders, journalists, and others looking for ways to communicate online without fear of retaliation."These changes, for now, are only available in the US and "on a limited basis," but Facebook promised that based on feedback from activists and users, it will "iterate and roll them out globally."Also, the company promised that "these improvements are only the beginning."After Facebook announced the changes, a Motherboard reader shared her experience with the policy."Facebook's changes are welcome and they will make it harder for people to discriminate against vulnerable users."
This post has been updated to add the reader's letter."I have JUST been going through this nightmare after someone flagged me and I was forced to change my name to what is on my Drivers License. I don't use my real name online for safety reasons (I'm a survivor and a mother) as well as the political nature of my artwork which would jeopardize my employment. After I read the article, I responded to Facebook's support ticket on my name situation that I should be allowed to use my online moniker [redacted at the request of the reader] since it is actually the name that all my friends use with me in real life and for safety reasons. I am hoping they will allow me to change it back. I have so many friends who are trans or gender nonconforming as well as survivors of gender-based violence. Facebook is a community for many of us, and not to be allowed to use the name to which our identities are tied is discriminatory and cruel."