Sunday, February 15, 2009

[ToS] Terms of Service

Apparently, judging by my recent blog post I'm fascinated by the social implications of Facebook, this post doesn't stray from this fact...

Acquiring some inspiration from my previous post I have read article upon article revolving around Facebook's ToS changes. Not that any of you remember this but when you first subscribed to Facebook, you agreed to a ToS which was 'subject to change at anytime', and well that change has come.

By clicking agree to these terms you agreed that Facebook can change its service at anytime with no warning to the people that use it. Facebook's old ToS used to feature a line which read..

"You may remove your User Content from the Site at any time. If you choose to remove your User Content, the license granted above will automatically expire, however you acknowledge that the Company may retain archived copies of your User Content."

This, as recently as last week has been removed from from Facebook's ToS essentially implying that Facebook can and will keep all of your content long after you delete it... Stating that...

"The following sections will survive any termination of your use of the Facebook Service: Prohibited Conduct, User Content, Your Privacy Practices, Gift Credits, Ownership; Proprietary Rights, Licenses, Submissions, User Disputes; Complaints, Indemnity, General Disclaimers, Limitation on Liability, Termination and Changes to the Facebook Service, Arbitration, Governing Law; Venue and Jurisdiction and Other."

This means that even if you delete your account facebook has the right to keep all of your content forever and do what they want with your content.

Obviously because this information is fresh, little is known what Facebook can or will do with your content in the future. The first think I thought of is that they can use your pictures or conversations with others against you in the future if you become a person of above average celebrity status. Facebook can, if you run for President say, sell your content to TMZ and tarnish your image if there are any incriminating or embarrasing pictures you or friends have posted of you.

I'm sure there are more serious implications for this new ToS, and I am interested to see what my class thinks.....