AESTETIX (Independent)
Do you use your “real” name on the Internet? What makes a name “real” anyways? aestetix will explore the social concept of where names come from and how we use them, and demonstrate how this manifests into the challenges we’re facing online today. Looking at key examples from popular companies like Google and Facebook, many of which tout “real” names policies, we’ll examine theories as to why they are in place, whether they have worked, and how effective they actually are at achieving their goals.
We’ll also take a look at legal implications of these issues, and strategies like the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace. NSTIC focuses specifically on addressing issues such as the balance between law enforcement and the first amendment, as well as federated identity. It also focuses on how we can maintain personal privacy while ensuring protection for access to sensitive data like health and financial records.