A number of bloggers voiced concern Monday after discovering that Facebook Inc. changed rules earlier this month regarding how it treats user content.

The Palo Alto-based social networking company now says in its terms of service that it will have unending and irrevocable license to use any content uploaded to its service, according to a posting on The Consumerist, a blog owned by the publisher of Consumer Reports,.

The story is one of the ten most talked about Monday on Twitter Inc.'s micro-blogging service.

Before now, Facebook said it would only have rights to use any content posted on its service while the user was a member of the service. Now it says Facebook will hold those rights even if a user cancels their membership.

Facebook said on Friday that it has grown to 175 million active users a little more than a month after reporting that it had hit the 150 million mark.

Or use facebook and don't be twat and upload things can damage you if it goes "public"

So a few photos of me and my family and some basic, public info is damaging for me?  Honestly, I don't know why you'd want to put anything more than that up there.   To idiots that type in their profile that they enjoy watching naked children, and are shocked, SHOCKED that they get fired from their teaching career, Facebook is the least of their worries;)

Originally posted by Josher

So a few photos of me and my family and some basic, public info is damaging for me?  Honestly, I don't know why you'd want to put anything more than that up there.   To idiots that type in their profile that they enjoy watching naked children, and are shocked, SHOCKED that they get fired from their teaching career, Facebook is the least of their worries;)

It doesn't have to be something that obviously damaging.

Say your kid becomes the next Michael Phelps. Then Facebook sells the images of your kid that you uploaded to their site to anyone who can then use them for promotional aspects without your kids permission, including some unsavory advertisements for a porn service. Not only would your kid not get paid for his image but it could damage his potential earnings with other reputable company advertisements.

That's just one example. The potential for abuse is far reaching.

Or send anything Incrimanateing over text messages

This is called "covering your ass." Welcome to the purpose of a ToS. If you expect them to actually make use of that clause as anything other than a deterrant for lawsuits, you're out of your mind.

You would find similar statements in many other online services.

Of course, I don't do the 'social networking' bit, so maybe this doesn't strike me as particularly problematic either way.

Selling photos I took to make a profit is the only problem I have.  Changing the EULA without you re-signing it after its been changed is against the law isnt' it?  Isn't that breaking a contract unless they originally wrote into the contract that they can change anything they want at anytime they want=)

I frikking hate all social networking sites. But...I have to use facebook since all my friends now use it, bleh.

I would delete my Facebook account, except they retain your data even after deletion. So, there's no point.

Looks like they've had a (temporary) change of heart: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/02/18/facebook.reversal/index.html?iref=mpstoryview.

"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."

Originally posted by Jackcolt

Or use facebook and don't be twat and upload things can damage you if it goes "public"

 

Well what's the point then?

I never use those social sites, because I could leave useful informations about me for my boss, my lovers, my family, my collegues.
I really don't want those people to know what I am up to with my friends.

But if you have to use them of course you have to behave like a twat, that's the whole point.
And just because you behave as such, there is no reason why the company (facebook in this case) should take advantage of it.
Facebook should be just a media, that's it.

 

I don't think it#s your stupid photographs they want the rights to.

It's your valuable data. Your name, address, email, phone number, age, intrests, job and shopping habits.

I like the way some people assume that everyone behaves like a twat off of the internet and as a result cannot use social networking sites. News flash...

Originally posted by baff

I don't think it#s your stupid photographs they want the rights to.

It's your valuable data. Your name, address, email, phone number, age, intrests, job and shopping habits.

probably. but how is it legal for them to keep all this information?

EDIT: well i guess i wanna know how they can change the rules mid-way. because all of the facebook users didnt agree to this so how are they allowed to change it.

You guys realize that pretty much all websites including MMORPG.com are like this right- Why do you think the contests here require all of your personal information displayed on your accounts in order for you to participate. Websites sell that information to data and advertising agencies, among other interested parties.

I also have a preudice against these social networking websites and the people who use them anyway

By the way the - are supposed to be question marks, but the key is broken as is 60 percent of the KB.

Redwoodsap said it best. I already have a friend where her image is being used for one of those "Need a Girlfriend? blah blah blah". Tried to help her get that stuff taken down. I think we made sucess with it, they got some other girl up there now. I think that snatched the image from her ratemybody.com account, but I'm not sure if they have their Terms of Service like the new one's of Facebook. I do agree though. Sounds like Facebook want's to make a cash in or sell anything your showing or infomation even.

I think it would be pretty easy too based on if you have to be a friend to that person to see their profile...I wonder if you can negeotiate to obtain info.

Originally posted by Rikimaru_X

Redwoodsap said it best. I already have a friend where her image is being used for one of those "Need a Girlfriend? blah blah blah". Tried to help her get that stuff taken down. I think we made sucess with it, they got some other girl up there now. I think that snatched the image from her ratemybody.com account, but I'm not sure if they have their Terms of Service like the new one's of Facebook. I do agree though. Sounds like Facebook want's to make a cash in or sell anything your showing or infomation even.

I think it would be pretty easy too based on if you have to be a friend to that person to see their profile...I wonder if you can negeotiate to obtain info.

I am sorry about your friend but did she really have any expectations of somthing like that not happening? I dont use any of those sites. I almost started to then heard about employers googling potential employees. I hit up google for some of my friends and Marines, I was shocked at how much info was out there with just there name and maybe a small hint as to who I was looking for. If you want a good job and like the one you have beeing a fucking ass hat on facebook is not a good idea.

Same as youtube or any other site of the sort. Myspace too. There are legal reasons why they need to have this in the terms of service.

facebook is for stalkers!