Facebook on Aadhaar: Real Name Test 'Now Finished', Reiterates No 'Integration or Authentication'

Facebook on Thursday published a blog post about the new 'name as per Aadhaar' sign-up process it was testing in the country. The company has clarified that the test is now over, and it currently has no plans to broaden the scope of the test. Facebook reiterated that the use of Aadhaar in its sign-up process was not an integration or a means of authentication.

While the social networking firm didn't share any further information about the test than it had with Gadgets 360 earlier this week, Facebook wrote the blog post with the intent to dispel 'interpretations' in a "number of reports" that claimed it was asking for Aadhaar details. It further clarified it does not have any Aadhaar integration, and does not use it for the authentication of a new user.

Instead, as we'd described in our initial coverage, the company was using the identification document as an example to educate users about the benefits of giving their real name when signing up for Facebook. In its statement to Gadgets 360 earlier, Facebook had said, "This is an optional prompt which we are testing, people are not required to enter the name on their Aadhaar card." The sign-up test was only seen by a small number of users.

Photo Credit: Facebook

The social network has long been trying to combat the fake and duplicate account problem with its real name policy, something that has also got it into trouble with several communities.