Seite - 151 - in Cyborg Mind - What Brain–Computer and Mind–Cyberspace Interfaces Mean for Cyberneuroethics

Cyberneuroethics • 151 Creating Fake Identities Sometimes, different identities may place conflicting demands on individu- als that may be detrimental to their health or wellbeing and may cause them to act in ways that have implications for the wellbeing or safety of others. Certain individuals may even lose touch with reality and the responsibilities they have towards themselves and others. One concern in this regard is the manner in which the Internet makes it possible for a person to create fake online identities,214 though social media sites generally seek to stop any deliberate deception as part of their terms and conditions.215 Facebook revealed in 2012 that it had 83 million fake accounts (8.7 per cent of the total), though the majority were considered to be dupli- cates or misclassified rather than ‘undesirable’ accounts (only 1.5 per cent of the total).216 Individuals may create fake accounts to protect themselves from unwanted intrusion, to divide their work and social lives, or because they are required to have a unique user name,217 though fake identities can also be created in order to perpetrate a crime.218 However, over the next few years, technologies including facial recognition and other means of tracking digital ‘footprints’ may reduce the potential for fake identities remaining undiscovered.219 An example of the way in which the Internet can influence a person’s identity was demonstrated when a married couple from Central Bosnia was reported to have begun divorce procedures after they unknowingly chatted each other up on the Internet using fake names.220 Apparently, Sana Klaric, twenty-seven, and her husband Adnan, thirty-two, poured their hearts out to each other online over their marriage troubles. Using the names ‘Sweetie’ and ‘Prince of Joy’ in an online chatroom, the pair thought they had found a soulmate with whom to spend the rest of their lives. But there was no happy ending after they turned up for a secret date and realised their mistake. Now the pair is seeking to separate after accusing each other of unfaithful- ness. Sana explained: ‘I was suddenly in love. It was amazing, we seemed to be stuck in the same kind of miserable marriages. How right that turned out to be.’ But when it dawned on her what had happened, she said: ‘I felt so betrayed’. On the other hand, Adnan indicated: ‘I still find it hard to believe that Sweetie, who wrote such wonderful things, is actually the same woman I married and who has not said a nice word to me for years.’ Reflecting a More Positive Identity As already indicated, it may be possible for persons to create completely new identities through avatars in cyberspace or surrogate robots in real reality221 in order to make themselves more acceptable or attractive. It has also enabled This open access edition has been made available under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license thanks to the support of Knowledge Unlatched. Not for resale.