Spring Break
Facebook announces new terms
New terms of use, introduced Feb. 4, have been revoked due to complaints from users
Makenzie Marineau
Issue date: 2/25/09 Section: News
With more than 26,710 students in the Oregon State network, not including alums and faculty, Facebook has proven just how many people are jumping into the social networking scene.
Facebook has again gained headlines in the news not for their significant fifth-year anniversary, but for updating its terms of use on Feb. 4, which are the terms users agree to when signing up with the site.
Consumerist.com, a popular consumer rights advocacy blog, caused an uproar over the new changes in a post titled "Facebook's New Terms of Service: 'We can do anything we want with your content. Forever.'" The post has already gained over a half a million views and many responses, including responses from Facebook.
The issue that is causing such controversy is how the new terms of use is worded, leading most to believe that personal information, even after terminating an account, will forever be Facebook's.
Consumerist.com points out a few important lines that have been cut out of the original terms of use:
"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."
Futhermore, the "Termination" section states:
"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."
Facebook users have the ability to set their own privacy settings. Christie Wisel, a sophomore at OSU, has been using Facebook since high school and was unaware of the issues concerning the new terms of use.
"I didn't know anything about the new terms, but I do realize that you as a Facebook user have the choice of who sees and doesn't see your information," Wisel said.
Facebook has again gained headlines in the news not for their significant fifth-year anniversary, but for updating its terms of use on Feb. 4, which are the terms users agree to when signing up with the site.
Consumerist.com, a popular consumer rights advocacy blog, caused an uproar over the new changes in a post titled "Facebook's New Terms of Service: 'We can do anything we want with your content. Forever.'" The post has already gained over a half a million views and many responses, including responses from Facebook.
The issue that is causing such controversy is how the new terms of use is worded, leading most to believe that personal information, even after terminating an account, will forever be Facebook's.
Consumerist.com points out a few important lines that have been cut out of the original terms of use:
"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."
Futhermore, the "Termination" section states:
"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."
Facebook users have the ability to set their own privacy settings. Christie Wisel, a sophomore at OSU, has been using Facebook since high school and was unaware of the issues concerning the new terms of use.
"I didn't know anything about the new terms, but I do realize that you as a Facebook user have the choice of who sees and doesn't see your information," Wisel said.
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