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Facebook Scrambles To Contain ToS Fallout

Posted by kdawson on from the all-your-content dept.

Ian Lamont writes "Anger over Facebook's ToS update has forced the company to scramble. Yesterday, a spokesman released a statement that said Facebook has never 'claimed ownership of material that users upload,' and is trying to be more open to users about how their data is being handled. Mark Zuckerberg has also weighed in, stating 'we wouldn't share your information in a way you wouldn't want.' Facebook members are skeptical, however — protests have sprung up on blogs, message boards, and a new Facebook group called 'People Against the new Terms of Service' that has added more than 10,000 members today."

9 of 409 comments (clear)

  1. Serves you right by Gothmolly · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Its enormously popular, and (to some) provides a lot of value... and its free. What did you THINK they were going to do with the info you have up there ? It's a massive social engineering/data mining study, and you're taking part in it.

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    I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
    1. Re:Serves you right by Jim+Robinson+Jr. · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Agreed. Someone went to a lot of effort, and spends a huge stack of cash every month to keep FB operating and providing those free services. Very little in life is truly free... and this is no different.

      They provide us with an entertaining and occasionally useful service without any cash changing hands, but that doesn't mean there isn't a cost involved.

      Don't like that they can re-use your "private" data? Don't post it. Want to post it? Regardless of whether your talking about Facebook, some other social site, or even just old-fashioned web pages, as soon as you post it... it's publicly available and there is nothing you can really do to prevent it.

      My advice to FB users (that includes me) is to use the same common sense you should be using everywhere: don't post something your mother couldn't read. It's corny, but that perspective could keep a lot of people out of trouble.

      If you really want something private, don't use a public social site to post it. There are plenty of web hosting companies to choose from, and for just a few dollars every month you can have space for a web page and stored files. Just find a secured template... and remember that nothing is ever - EVER - truly secure if it is publicly accessible.

      Cheers, and happy Facebooking!

      Jim

  2. Re:Oh, that's all right then by Bieeanda · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Absolutely, especially after they proved themselves during the Beacon fiasco. Proved that they can't be trusted not to stab with one hand while they stroke with another, that is.

  3. Re:Oh, that's all right then by at_slashdot · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The problem is that people already use Facebook and they are invested in it (they have friends, pictures, etc) and this is a change in TOS that you can't refuse, if you just leave Facebook the TOS says (from what I understand) that they have control over your info... so what use to leave now?

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    "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." -- Prof. Dumbledore
  4. Re:Oh, that's all right then by chaoticgeek · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Actually it was easy for me... I found all the people I actually cared about on the site. Which happened to be all my friends because I did not add everyone under the sun. Told them how to get in touch with me, then proceeded to delete everything I had uploaded in the first place. Started removing all information about me, which was not much because I was never very fond of putting up all my info on there anyways. Then closed the account. So they can have my schools email and that I play guitar and like anime but that is about it. Sure they may have backups but screw it I'll live. And I don't mind not having facebook anymore either.

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    hello
  5. Re:Oh, that's all right then by squidinkcalligraphy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This sums up all that's wrong about facebook 'protest' groups and 'causes'. You join a cause, then get a warm and fuzzy feeling that you've actually done something. YOU HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING APART FROM CLICKING THE MOUSE! It's even more useless than email petitions. Want to make a difference? Write a letter to your politician, go to a protest, start a boycott, strike, blockade, start a campaign group, talk to people in the street, stand on a soapbox, fuck some shit up. But it's gonna take a hell of a lot more effort than joining a facebook group.

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    "I think it would be a good idea" Gandhi, on Western Civilisation
  6. Re:Lawyers with too much power by caitsith01 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    IAAL, and I disagree. We don't spend our time making stuff up and convincing our client's it's what they want.

    You can rest assured that this is exactly what Facebook was after, and that their instructions to their reflect it. If you tell lawyers to make something as favourable as possible, that's exactly what they'll do.

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    Read Pynchon.
  7. Re:Oh, that's all right then by Orlando · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The best way to hit them is NOT TO USE THE DAMN SITE! How simple can it be?

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    -= This is a self-referential sig =-
  8. Re:Oh, that's all right then by MrAngryForNoReason · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The irony of creating a facebook group to protest about the actions of facebook seems to be escaping a lot of people....