We are not claiming and have never claimed ownership of material that users upload. The new Terms were clarified to be more consistent with the behavior of the site. That is, if you send a message to another user (or post to their wall, etc...), that content might not be removed by Facebook if you delete your account (but can be deleted by your friend). Furthermore, it is important to note that this license is made subject to the user's privacy settings. So any limitations that a user puts on display of the relevant content (e.g. To specific friends) are respected by Facebook. Also, the license only allows us to use the info "in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof." Users generally expect and understand this behavior as it has been a common practice for web services since the advent of webmail. For example, if you send a message to a friend on a webmail service, that service will not delete that message from your friend's inbox if you delete your accountFrom Consumerist.
Edit (2/19/08): Facebook has removed the new terms of service, indicating that it is very willing to respond to user feedback.
1 comment:
I agree that it is very easy to post self-harming information on facebook (though one wonders whether it's your own fault if you post pictures of your drunken party in public), and that the privacy settings should become more opt-in to sharing. That being said, I often find these concerns to be more more idealogical than practical: yes, all of the websites we visit gather data from what we do, and yes, they do it to make money, but who's really harmed if gmail has adds more suited to you personally? There are concerns about facebook turning over your private data to potential bosses, but them handing over statistical averages? This seems much more efficient then invasive.
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