Facebook owns all your information now!, Even if you delete it.

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by InsaneNutter, Feb 16, 2009.

  1. InsaneNutter

    InsaneNutter Resident Nutter Staff Member

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    The Consumerist has noticed a seemingly slight but very important (and disturbing) change in Facebook’s terms of service, regarding user-generated content.


    In short, all of the content you’ve ever uploaded on Facebook can be used, modified or even sublicensed by Facebook in every possible way - even if you quit the service.


    The TOS says the following:
    You hereby grant Facebook an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense) to (a) use, copy, publish, stream, store, retain, publicly perform or display, transmit, scan, reformat, modify, edit, frame, translate, excerpt, adapt, create derivative works and distribute (through multiple tiers), any User Content you (I) Post on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof subject only to your privacy settings or (ii) enable a user to Post, including by offering a Share Link on your website and (B) to use your name, likeness and image for any purpose, including commercial or advertising, each of (a) and (B) on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof.

    It also used to contain another bit that is now missing.
    You may remove your User Content from the Site at any time. If you choose to remove your User Content, the license granted above will automatically expire, however you acknowledge that the Company may retain archived copies of your User Content.

    This is also reinforced by the “Termination” section:
    The following sections will survive any termination of your use of the Facebook Service: Prohibited Conduct, User Content, Your Privacy Practices, Gift Credits, Ownership; Proprietary Rights, Licenses, Submissions, User Disputes; Complaints, Indemnity, General Disclaimers, Limitation on Liability, Termination and Changes to the Facebook Service, Arbitration, Governing Law; Venue and Jurisdiction and Other.

    Sure, most users don’t really care (or think they don’t care) about all this, but the idea that you now cannot stop Facebook from using your content should you ever want to is frightening to say the least.


    Is Facebook Connect the reason?

    Commenter OrtensiaCadmium on Consumerist finds a probable reason for this change in Facebook TOS.


    “That’s fairly common language in terms for various sites such as Facebook. While it gives Facebook some far-reaching and scary possibilities, the basic idea is that things you upload may end up residing on servers outside of Facebook’s direct control. These broad rights make it so that you can’t sue Facebook for some cached content on some other server…”


    Yes, with Facebook Connect in place, it’s likely that Facebook simply must do this in order to avoid possible lawsuits over content that isn’t even stored by them anymore. However, the same commenter rightfully notices that “…yes, it also means they can sell your photos or use them in advertising with no recompense to you.”

    It’s not just your stuff, it’s everyone’s stuff

    The possible implications of this TOS change go beyond these concerns. Sure, you can choose not to use Facebook at all, but that doesn’t mean a thing. Someone can still take your photo, slap it on Facebook, and now neither you nor the author of the photo can stop Facebook from using the photo in whichever way they please.


    Looking at it globally, millions of people are uploading bits of information on everyone and everything, to a huge online database, and by doing so they’re automatically giving away the rights to use or modify this information to a private corporation. And not only that; they now alsowaiver the right to ever take it back from it.


    Facebook should take a long, deep look into how it treats its users. Until now, users had optionswith regards to how the data they generated on Facebook was used. Now, they have no options whatsoever, rather than quit the service altogether. It’s a major difference; I’m not going to take it lightly, and neither should you.

    Source
     
  2. wagner

    wagner Well-Known Member

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    It is always sad when people start taking advantage of these types of situations.And the idea that my photo's etc can be used and abused without my consent really gets me angry.Are there any alternative sites that do something similar to facebook?
     
  3. InsaneNutter

    InsaneNutter Resident Nutter Staff Member

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    Same but the problem is even if you don’t use Facebook there’s most likely going to be a photo with you in uploaded to it at some point.

    I watched this video quite a while ago now, after doing so I removed a lot of personal information from Facebook. Its most likely still hidden on Facebook’s servers somewhere though.



    Bebo and Myspace are popular alternatives in the UK, however Facebook is becoming like MSN here... everyone just uses it.
     
  4. cardo69

    cardo69 Addict

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    Facebook has become the ne MXIT causing a serious stir in the social world, but now this, the only problem is people have become so dependent and addicited to Facebook, they dont even care about this situation which is really dumb, because its almost like invasion or privacy...
     
  5. wagner

    wagner Well-Known Member

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    We should all just resort to good 'ol fashion face to face conversation...
     
  6. Trebor

    Trebor Dolphin Fan

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    I only use Facebook to see what my mates get up to (mainly the friends I hardly ever see). I've taken down some information I had up on there and hope that Facebook don't abuse the power they now have over their users.
     
  7. mattyd38

    mattyd38 Console Modder

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    Update : facebook backtracks on its change of terms!!!

    this was posted at the top of my home page on facebook when i logged in this morning:

    Terms of Use Update
    Over the past few days, we have received a lot of 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. For more information, visit the Facebook Blog.

    If you want to share your thoughts on what should be in the new terms, check out our group Facebook Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.


    Seems like facebook dont have carte blanche over our pictures after all! at least it proves they listen to there users...
     
  8. Safinn

    Safinn Addict

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    What he said. I never got into any of these sort of sites anyway.
     
  9. Assassin

    Assassin Addict

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  10. InsaneNutter

    InsaneNutter Resident Nutter Staff Member

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    It’s good to see the Terms of use have been reversed to the previous version, these terms are still not exactly great if you read them:

    Why do Facebook need a worldwide license to distribute user content I upload to Facebook? I take advantage of the privacy settings on Facebook and would hope content I upload to Facebook can only be seen by friends on my friend list, not used by random Facebook employees who can use it for whatever means they please.

    Another concern is why does Facebook need to “retain archived copies of your User Content” after it has been removed? If I remove something I would hope its gone for good. The terms of use don’t state what its retied for or how long.

    I’m no legal expert but that doesn’t exactly sound great to me.
     
  11. wagner

    wagner Well-Known Member

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    The internet has really gone from something new and exciting to something so over moitored!Nothing is private anymore...You never know!(N)
     

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