Facebook has refused Pakistan's requests for user IDs. The country's authorities asked the social media giant to link new users to their mobile phone numbers, enabling the government to identify fake accounts which spread hate speech. Facebook will continue to authenticate new accounts itself through email addresses. However, following the decision, it was pointed out that Facebook-owned WhatsApp already asked users for mobile phone details during registration. Worryingly for Facebook, earlier this year, Pakistan's Interior Minister threatened to block any social network that refused to comply with government policy.Â
