British World War II slogans on totebags, available at the Victoria & Albert Museum Giftshop, London.
Lately, I've been thinking of leaving Facebook, due to privacy concerns. It doesn't help that their chief lawyer was a Bush administration employee; we all know what happened to our rights of privacy there. Now Facebook has changed its terms of service, which appear to suggest once you leave Facebook, your private information will be retained.
Facebook's founder Mark Zuckerberg took a step back from such plans, after widespread protests from Facebook users and privacy groups. A message posted today on Facebook users' pages says, "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..."
Zuckerberg also invites users to share their "thoughts on what should be in the new terms."
On Monday, Zuckerberg wrote, "Our philosophy that people own their information and control who they share it with has remained constant. A lot of the language in our terms is overly formal and protective of the rights we need to provide this service to you. Over time we will continue to clarify our positions and make the terms simpler."
Meanwhile, the Electronic Privacy Information Center said it would file a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission over Facebook's new terms of service. The group's executive director Marc Rotenberg told PC World that "Facebook should go back to its original terms of service." Simon Davies of Privacy International told the BBC that the change was "a breach of faith by Facebook." He said Facebook should commit to a privacy policy allowing users to delete all data from its systems, including back-ups, within a specified time period.
If you're a Facebook member, are you concerned about who owns your content and how your private information is shared?
P.S. Need a good laugh? Read Mark Morford's San Francisco Chronicle column about social networking.
Those of us who administer our Facebook pages here at the station have been having much discussion about all of this over the past week. In a sense, it inhibits us about just what we DO share if it all gets "out there" for anyone to use -- not that it isn't already that way -- I mean, anyone can copy and send and who knows whose control your work is in. But still... I am relieved they're back to original terms...
Posted by: jeanie | 20 February 2009 at 21:00
Di, my original "Keep calm and carry on" poster came from Barter Books. I didn't know it was near where you live!
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 20 February 2009 at 16:09
Aw man, I have just started using Facebook now this happens. Those Keep Calm and Carry On things - I have just found out that the original artworks were discovered in Barter Books in Alnwick, not far from us, not so long ago. They had been done to use in the war but were actually never used at all. I am a mine of information :)
Posted by: Di Overton | 20 February 2009 at 16:05
Hugh, as the article indicates, apparently Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is rethinking the terms of use and has temporarily reverted to Facebook's original terms.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 20 February 2009 at 10:45
I just can't believe they went back on their TOS change. People are dumb if they think they are getting any privacy from Facebook or Myspace. All they are doing is voluntarily supplying valuable info to huge marketing mills. Although there are ways to communicate with privacy: anonymous sites like http://www.anonboard.com
Posted by: Hugh Janus | 20 February 2009 at 06:19
I have just stepped out of Facebook because of the weird feeling it gave me of being watched (like the guy who looks for a corner where he can write his diary in privacy in the book '1984'by George Orwell) and also because I found the way people interact pretty childish, not to say infantile! It is pretty addictive though.
Posted by: frankie | 19 February 2009 at 17:28
Sometimes , I am very naive about the info who puts on internet but when I think about it it scares me a lot .IT IS A CONERN
Posted by: Mélanie Aussandon | 19 February 2009 at 08:50
I think I might be more worried if I'd been less cautious all along. However I've always treated the internet as a place where anyone could see your information and potentially make use of it. For me, the bottom line has always been to not post anything I wouldn't want the world to see.
That said, I think I just friended you over on Facebook. Obviously you don't need to accept the invitation and there's no hard feelings if you don't, particularly as you're thinking of leaving. But I put it out there, FWIW.
Posted by: Dargie | 19 February 2009 at 06:42
Insane. Is nothing sacred anymore. Why not just give us a number, Big Brother?
xo
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | 19 February 2009 at 04:28
That sounds scary! I do love the sayings on those bags though. I have been thinking of getting one of the posters or cups. Those seem safe enough. It irritates me why some company, would want to keep info after you are gone. Sounds shady!
xo
Posted by: Christina | 19 February 2009 at 00:49
It is a concern. I try hard never to share anything that is too personal. The most personal thing I share are my children's pictures which from time to time I delete. I have a lot of friends in Asia so my network is out of China and my personal information is very brief. I hope you do not leave Facebook my friend. I love being connected with you there. As with all information out on the net we must always be very careful what we disclose.
Posted by: Yoli | 18 February 2009 at 23:57
Yes, this is a concern. I am very careful about what I post on Facebook just because it seems our information is so out there for anyone to read.
Posted by: marilyn | 18 February 2009 at 18:05
Yes, I'm concerned.
I was at first apprehensive of FB, given its bad track record (remember Facebook beacon?), so I set all my privacy settings to high.
But then I noticed this post:
http://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=54434097130
where Mark Zuckerberg explained the reason for the new TOS.
I also wonder whether FB honors the EU safe harbor principles.
In the mean time, I'll stay on FB,
but not one single video or picture will be uploaded again.
Posted by: Peter | 18 February 2009 at 16:37
Yes, I am concerned, but I also feel it is too late. My info is already there even if I leave.
I look at Google, other search engines, myriad other data collectors as well as my own ISP-- not to mention site counters that record our visits. Is Facebook any worse? Data mining is everywhere on the Internet.
Today Facebook has gone back to previous TOS while they ponder what to do next. One thing I did today was double check my privacy settings. I hadn't realized that those settings are really more liberal than I realized and I tweaked a few settings. I hadn't looked at those setting for a few years.
Posted by: Helen | 18 February 2009 at 16:31
Not particularly. Facebook charges no fee and provides a stadium. Like any stadium, it is my choice on whether or not I enter. If they clearly post their rules upon entering, I am free to leave. If I am already in the stadium, I knew when I went in that they could change the rules for it's inhabitants. If I don't like the rules, I can leave. I also have the ability to, if I feel changes are a big enough issue, have input. In the end, Facebook belongs to Facebook. We are all visitors.
I like the message that the FB president put out. He is listening.
My advice would be for people to not lose their heads over this, quit posting anything that they think could be misused by FB until the dust settles, see what happens, and then make a final choice.
Posted by: nutster | 18 February 2009 at 16:31
Yes I am. With that in mind, I will be careful in the future with what I say and the pictures I post. Not that I have ever posted anything worth repeating, but it is the principle of privacy. I hope they resolve the issue or I fear Facebook will fade away.
Posted by: Kathy Mc | 18 February 2009 at 16:25
i am fairly new to facebook and am enjoying the instant connection of it...i always think about what info i want out there, so i err on the side of caution...i am not sure that anyone who is active in cyber space is protected if they choose to divulge too much...this does make me think about my blog though...who owns that as it is heart and soul work for me...and much of it will be included in a book someday i hope...there is much better material to steal there...hugs, r
Posted by: Cre8Tiva | 18 February 2009 at 16:20