Should Facebook let users go anonymous?

In an interesting article over at CNET, an argument is made for users on Facebook to have the option to make themselves anonymous. A digital rights campaign group called Access Now has launched a campaign called "Unfriend the Dictators" and the sole purpose of this campaign is to make Facebook rethink its policy on attaching a name and person with a Facebook account. The idea behind the campaign would be to let protestors and anti-government campaigners go anonymous in order to hide from governmental regimes who are tracking down the personal information of protestors online.

Facebook is, as critics of this campaign note, a company who operate based on their business practices. Critics of the campaign argue that if protestors want to be anonymous they can do so on other websites. However, both critics and campaigners agree that Facebook has become integral to the protests in the Middle East - and more so than Twitter - and this campaign demonstrates how Facebook has become central to the lives of many around the world.

So what do you think Facebook should or should not do? Is this a matter of personal security and privacy or of business practice? Let us know below.

Comments

[Stuart]

Er, just create an account called John Smith and tell your friends your alias.

And use an internet cafe or somebody else's wireless...

Simples.

[Adrian Short]

As a private business, Facebook can do whatever they like within the law.

AFAIK there's nothing to stop you signing up to Facebook with a pseudonym. How could they tell?

(On second thoughts, don't answer that.)

[Purlieu]

If you look at FB accounts (do a search) I'd wager there's a large percentage already that do not have actual names.
And you can't 'friend' mark Zuckerberg - sends its own message that does

[Dick Puddlecote]

Quite a lot of people are *already* anonymous on Facebook ;)

[Richard Craven]

I deleted my account more than a year ago, and have since lived free of this tyranny.

[Slacker]

Don't like what Facebook does or doesn't do with your data? Then don't sign up!

[Spy Cameras]

I love being anonymous. It is makes me feel safty.

[keylogger for Mac]

yea, Facebook should let users go anonymous to protect the privacy of our kids.