Facebook with caution, but don't panic over the fine print
There’s been much ado today about Facebook’s updated Terms of Service, which basically state that Facebook completely owns the rights to everything you say, comment on, link to, post, tag, upload and share on their site.
It’s okay though, says Interweb Yoda, Chris Brogan. In fact, this data-ownership is just standard operating procedure when doing business with general web-based technologies, not an attempt to take over your online identity:
People of Earth: there is no need to panic. Facebook changed its terms of service recently... But what it suggests is that most folks don’t really know what they’ve signed on for when using a free service out on the web.
They own your content. No matter what you feel, if you’ve put it on their servers, it’s in their possession. The only way it’s ever otherwise is if the terms say so. Banks own your records. Your health insurance company owns your records. You own nothing…
What Facebook is saying, and they have to, is that they have to own your stuff, because if Facebook Connect and other services are going to make your data ubiquitous and shared and spread all around like peanut butter, then they have to have the rights to republish and distribute it…
In Facebook, you surrender your personal data (tons more than you think) every time you add an application to your page.... It’s not what you think. It’s either worse or a non-issue, depending on how you see things.
I agree and am sort of happy about this hubbub because I’m constantly fretting over folks’ uninhibited use of social networking sites.
I just wish I could make everyone understand that there is no privacy on the web – not really. Everything you put out there is really just that: OUT THERE for your mom, kiddos, exes, grandparents, reporters and future employers to see. And you already know how I feel about that.
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Comments
I think a lot of the hubbub comes from concern about intellectual property.
If I feed my writing--or a photographer posts his images on Facebook--who owns those?
You make a very valid point.
It's my understanding that Facebook and the like really do have the right to redistribute your stuff -- be that photos you upload or a column you "publish" in the notes section, etc.
Of course, Facebook can't sell or claim authorship of those items, but it can use them if it ever wanted to. Honestly though, the chances are slim that they ever would want to. They just need to be able to say they have the right to own/redistribute it so you can have the option to intermingle your social networking sites (i.e. how my Twitter account auto updates my Facebook status, or how my Chic Geek blog posts auto feed into my Facebook wall). That's the way I understand it anyway.
The second Facebook started using folks' data and info in any sort of odd/malicious way -- you know we'd all jet. And they certainly don't want that. Still, it's a good lesson in being careful about what you share on Facebook, Twitter, etc. I would not post anything in it's true form up there -- just link to other sites like this one and your personal blog where you can keep your Creative Commons rights.
As par for the Facebook course, their management team has reverted back the old terms of use after feeling the heat from the Interwebs. See below:
"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."
You may remember that they did this same "we are gonna do this ... just kidding ... sorry!" thing with their ad strategy in last 2007. Bless 'em. Still be careful though. The old TOS still say they have rights to your stuff!
Facebook is an outstanding medium for receiving your company brand out there where your consumers liberally roam, but it could be the bad decision you ever made. http://www.fbstatusking.com/category/birthday-fb-status
Caution and preventative measure us on the Blog Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us going on You Tube. http://www.123facebookstatus.com/good-night-status.php