Beware. Facebook owns photos of you, your kids, and more
by Rachel Sarah
Filed under Kids, Single Parents
If you haven’t yet heard, Facebook recently changed its terms of service (TOS) — and we’re not the only ones up in arms.
Here’s what you need to know:
It all started on Sunday, when Facebook revised the wording of its policy over what happens to profile content–shared items, blog post-like “notes,” photos–when members delete their accounts.
Both Dr. Leah and I are on Facebook. In fact, I’m a daily, avid user. I post original content, photos, and more.
That’s why we both want to know: how will Facebook’s policy affect parents who post information and photos about their kids?
“Consumer advocacy blog The Consumerist phrased Facebook’s fresh policy as “We Can Do Anything We Want With Your Content. Forever.”
All over the blogosphere yesterday, Facebook users demanded to know the truth about what one Consumerist commenter called “The Information Blackhole…. What goes in never comes out. Be careful what you huck in there.”
Say what?
Do the new TOS mean that Facebook can sell pictures of our kids to advertisers?
Could one of our kids be on the Cheerios box but, instead of a big fat “pay for college” check, our kid gets nothing?
Could our posted pictures of family and friends be used to advertise a product we detest, promote a way of life which offends us, or a political initiative we oppose?
So far, the media and other bloggers seem to agree with us.
We deserve direct answers to all our questions about the new TOS. The “just trust us” message from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has done nothing to clear up user suspicion and confusion.
To add to our concerns, MomLogic also adds: Did you know Facebook can also share your information with lawyers, companies and government agencies?
Here’s our first question for Facebook: So, do you keep all of our content on file without explicit permission from the users?
And we’d love to know from you: Are you on Facebook?
Do you upload photos of yourself, family, friends, and your kids?
Does Facebook’s new TOS make you reconsider your Facebook status?
~~~
Update an hour after we posted the above:
Just before midnight PST, Facebook sent this note out to all users:
“Over the past few days, we have received a lot of good feedback about the new terms we posted two weeks ago. Because of this response, we have decided to return to our previous Terms of Use while we resolve the issues that people have raised.”
We would still like to have those “previous” Terms of Use clarified, wouldn’t you?
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Twitter @ canadianbaldguy
I’m an avid Facebook user. I felt very uneasy about the new TOS, especially when you consider the potential power Facebook would yield with over 175 million users worldwide.
Hopefully the backlash will make them wake-up a bit because them saying “Trust us” doesn’t really make me feel more at ease, y’know?
Twitter @ http://www.singlemommindy.blogspot.com
This blog was the first I heard of the issue! Where was I?
Looks like they have a new notice up this am stating they are back on the old TOS while they sort throught the issues with the new.
Must have been some pretty heavy opposition – and for good reason.
Kinda scarey, but how can they even do that?
Twitter @ http://www.singlemommyhood.com
Canadian Bald Guy: We’re not feeling too at ease, either.
Mindy Mom: The TOS issue has been circulating but “The Consumerist” really brought it to the spotlight — and then folks on Twitter got talking.
A friend told me recently, however, “Have you looked at Google’s TOS for gmail?”
Uh, no.
Rachel, that is why I have one (1) friend on Facebook and post nothing that can be used to any advantage by anyone.
Let me add that any of your friends can pull off anything that you give them access to and use it.
I make a good living in this IT world and what people can get from what is posted would scare most people (if they bothered to really think about it). Even when a drive, or server is wiped clean, or formatted, all the information that was on it is still there and can be recovered.
Something to think about when you use the web. Eric Blair (AKA George Orwell), when he wrote 1984, could never have imagine the kind of Big Brother that currently exist and is advancing even more.
I love your site, by the way. This Facebook TOS issue is very scary indeed. As an avid FB user, I hate to think that my FB life is available for use by FB for anything they choose. Truly frightening.
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