Is it considered obstruction if a person refuses to provide identification or provides false identification?

Yes, providing a false name, false identification, or lying to the police about the cirumstances of a crime is considered obstructing a peace officer or obstruction of justice. This however does depend on the specific circumstances surrounding the interaction, location and the capacity of the police officer. For example, if you are operating a motor vehicle and are under suspicion of a crime, you are legally required to identify yourself. For obstruction to apply, the police must be acting within the scope of their legal duties. If they demand identification without legal authority, refusing may not be considered obstruction.