New terms and conditions at Facebook: Users and data protectionists rebel
Facebook has triggered a wave of criticism and resistance with the change to its terms and conditions. According to the new terms of use, the network can freely dispose of any type of data, even if a member has long since logged out of the platform.
Facebook has triggered a wave of criticism and resistance with the change to its terms and conditions. According to the new terms of use, the network can freely dispose of any type of data and continue to use it as it wishes, even if a member has long since logged out of the platform.
Facebook has always reserved the right to use user data, but the fact that information from former members can also be processed without restriction is now causing great displeasure among users and data protectionists. Previously, it was possible to log out and delete all profile data.
The provisions, which were amended on February 4, initially went largely unnoticed. According to the media service Pressetext, the general public only became aware of them when a consumer protection organization in the USA drew attention to them last Sunday and scrutinized the terms of use in detail.
Within a very short space of time, protest groups have formed within the social network, but also outside it in Internet forums and blogs. There were similar scenarios when the community portal StudiVZ changed its terms and conditions in order to market its members' personal data. The only difference: StudiVZ informed its members in advance via email about the new terms of use.
However, platform founder Mark Zuckerberg is trying to appease the situation and is offering the prospect of clarification - simpler terms of use. "Our philosophy that people own their information and control who they share it with remains the same," writes Zuckerberg in an official blog post.
Facebook has always reserved the right to use user data, but the fact that information from former members can also be processed without restriction is now causing great displeasure among users and data protectionists. Previously, it was possible to log out and delete all profile data.
The provisions, which were amended on February 4, initially went largely unnoticed. According to the media service Pressetext, the general public only became aware of them when a consumer protection organization in the USA drew attention to them last Sunday and scrutinized the terms of use in detail.
Within a very short space of time, protest groups have formed within the social network, but also outside it in Internet forums and blogs. There were similar scenarios when the community portal StudiVZ changed its terms and conditions in order to market its members' personal data. The only difference: StudiVZ informed its members in advance via email about the new terms of use.
However, platform founder Mark Zuckerberg is trying to appease the situation and is offering the prospect of clarification - simpler terms of use. "Our philosophy that people own their information and control who they share it with remains the same," writes Zuckerberg in an official blog post.
