Quote from: valeriedances on August 01, 2011, 01:18:31 PM
It would be nice if real names could be used. But that isnt realistic where people can use it to hurt another.
It's also a problem where how do you control how much of your name to reveal? If you meet someone face to face, you decide in that moment whether to just say your first name, full name, or nothing. In many cases, its not that person's business to know your full name.
Under the real-name verification here in S. Korea, you do not need to reveal your real name to the public. Your real name and registration number (like SSN in the US) is required when you initially try to join any portal or web site by setting up your account. After that, you can use your id or nickname when you write a post or upload a photo/video.
This would be O.K. for most ordinary people. But the problem is that when the police is seeking a criminal suspect and needs communication records of the suspects such as e-mail, cellular phone and nowadays GPS-equipped smartphone. The police can get a search warrant from the court. As I remember, the police once got a search warrant for several thousands internet users to capture a kidnapper. They were allowed to read all e-mail messages of those users. Of course, the police could know the real identity of any user.
But, many people still do not like this unlimited power of the police in dealing with internet users, because sometimes this can be abused. A most famous example is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minerva_(Internet_personality)Barbie~~
