Facebook Backs Down....

Tecnos · 02-18-2009, 06:57 AM

Facebook has backed down temporarily from its proposed changes in its terms of use to hold onto and release personal data to other organisations.

In a blog post Mark Zuckerberg said the move was temporary "while we resolve the issues that people have raised".

Mark Zuckerberg started the site to help students connect

The founder of Facebook says the social network will return to its previous terms of service regarding user data.

In a blog post Mark Zuckerberg said the move was temporary "while we resolve the issues that people have raised".

Users had complained after new terms of service seemed to suggest Facebook would retain personal data even if someone deleted their account.

Originally defending the changes, Mr Zuckerberg had said it was to better reflect how people used the site.

He had said the changes were made to ensure that if a user deleted his or her account any comments or messages he or she had left on a friend's Facebook page would not also disappear.

'Received questions'

So Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and boss of Facebook, has had to learn the hard way that a social network is nothing like e-mail
Darren Waters
Technology editor, BBC News website

In his updated blog entry, Mr Zuckerberg said: "the past couple of days, we received a lot of questions and comments about the changes and what they mean for people and their information. Based on this feedback, we have decided to return to our previous terms of use while we resolve the issues that people have raised."

Facebook users were advised on the change with a notice posted to their pages when logging in to the service.

He added: "Our next version will be a substantial revision from where we are now. It will reflect the principles I described yesterday around how people share and control their information, and it will be written clearly in language everyone can understand."

It appears to going down the same road as Google. Its halo is starting to slip
Simon Davies, Privacy International

He said Facebook would draw up a new governing document in conjunction with its users.

The row and reaction to the Facebook changes to its terms of service reflect a wider issue about user data and who owns the personal information - from comments, to photos and videos - stored on social network accounts, and what happens to it if a user decides to leave a service.

'Breach of faith'

Simon Davies of Privacy International called the change "a breach of faith by Facebook".

"People are entitled to be outraged. It flies in the face of the commitments that the company made to protect user privacy and to improve user controls," he told BBC News.

Mr Davies criticised the company for allowing commercial and legal concerns to override its commitment to users, saying: "It appears to going down the same road as Google. Its halo is starting to slip."

"Now, there are other kids on the block, like Twitter, Facebook can only survive a certain number of disasters like this. It will only last three years if it continues to make these errors."

Facebook should commit to a privacy policy that would allow users to delete all data from its systems, including back-ups, within a specified time period, recommended Mr Davies.

Formal complaint

He also advised users to "ratchet their privacy settings up to the maximum" to restrict advertisers' access to their data and ensure that their details are fully protected.

Earlier this week Mr Zuckerberg had likened the persistence of data across the social network, even after a user had decided to leave the service, to e-mail.

In the US, public interest group, the Electronic Privacy Information Center had warned it would file a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission about the new terms of service.

"We think that Facebook should go back to its original terms of service," Epic's executive director Marc Rotenberg, told PC World website.

On BBC Website:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7896309.stm

Truthed · 02-18-2009, 07:31 AM

Soooooooooooooo good. I love it, they thought they could just change it and no one would notice or care. wrong!

kidflash2008 · 02-18-2009, 08:47 AM

So they won't sell private information to other companies and ad agencies? They won't give any information without a warrant to any government agencies? I do find that hard to believe. They will do it secretly, and hope people don't find out.

Truthed · 02-18-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kidflash2008

So they won't sell private information to other companies and ad agencies? They won't give any information without a warrant to any government agencies? I do find that hard to believe. They will do it secretly, and hope people don't find out.

That is correct. But it still feels nice? GOD stop taking that away from us.

02-18-2009, 06:57 AM	#1
Tecnos Investigator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: UK Posts: 419	Facebook Backs Down.... Facebook has backed down temporarily from its proposed changes in its terms of use to hold onto and release personal data to other organisations. In a blog post Mark Zuckerberg said the move was temporary "while we resolve the issues that people have raised". Mark Zuckerberg started the site to help students connect The founder of Facebook says the social network will return to its previous terms of service regarding user data. In a blog post Mark Zuckerberg said the move was temporary "while we resolve the issues that people have raised". Users had complained after new terms of service seemed to suggest Facebook would retain personal data even if someone deleted their account. Originally defending the changes, Mr Zuckerberg had said it was to better reflect how people used the site. He had said the changes were made to ensure that if a user deleted his or her account any comments or messages he or she had left on a friend's Facebook page would not also disappear. 'Received questions' So Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and boss of Facebook, has had to learn the hard way that a social network is nothing like e-mail Darren Waters Technology editor, BBC News website In his updated blog entry, Mr Zuckerberg said: "the past couple of days, we received a lot of questions and comments about the changes and what they mean for people and their information. Based on this feedback, we have decided to return to our previous terms of use while we resolve the issues that people have raised." Facebook users were advised on the change with a notice posted to their pages when logging in to the service. He added: "Our next version will be a substantial revision from where we are now. It will reflect the principles I described yesterday around how people share and control their information, and it will be written clearly in language everyone can understand." It appears to going down the same road as Google. Its halo is starting to slip Simon Davies, Privacy International He said Facebook would draw up a new governing document in conjunction with its users. The row and reaction to the Facebook changes to its terms of service reflect a wider issue about user data and who owns the personal information - from comments, to photos and videos - stored on social network accounts, and what happens to it if a user decides to leave a service. 'Breach of faith' Simon Davies of Privacy International called the change "a breach of faith by Facebook". "People are entitled to be outraged. It flies in the face of the commitments that the company made to protect user privacy and to improve user controls," he told BBC News. Mr Davies criticised the company for allowing commercial and legal concerns to override its commitment to users, saying: "It appears to going down the same road as Google. Its halo is starting to slip." "Now, there are other kids on the block, like Twitter, Facebook can only survive a certain number of disasters like this. It will only last three years if it continues to make these errors." Facebook should commit to a privacy policy that would allow users to delete all data from its systems, including back-ups, within a specified time period, recommended Mr Davies. Formal complaint He also advised users to "ratchet their privacy settings up to the maximum" to restrict advertisers' access to their data and ensure that their details are fully protected. Earlier this week Mr Zuckerberg had likened the persistence of data across the social network, even after a user had decided to leave the service, to e-mail. In the US, public interest group, the Electronic Privacy Information Center had warned it would file a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission about the new terms of service. "We think that Facebook should go back to its original terms of service," Epic's executive director Marc Rotenberg, told PC World website. On BBC Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7896309.stm __________________

02-18-2009, 07:31 AM	#2
Truthed Administrator Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,079	Soooooooooooooo good. I love it, they thought they could just change it and no one would notice or care. wrong! __________________ "You Want To Believe" http://www.truthed.com truthed@truthed.com

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02-18-2009, 08:47 AM	#3
kidflash2008 Senior Investigator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,699	So they won't sell private information to other companies and ad agencies? They won't give any information without a warrant to any government agencies? I do find that hard to believe. They will do it secretly, and hope people don't find out.