Spring Break
URI students ponder Facebook Web site's 'Terms of Service' changes, current policy
Betsy Cohen
Issue date: 2/24/09 Section: News
02/24/09 -Facebook, the popular student-networking Web site, recently announced it has returned to its old privacy policy after upsetting thousands of users. However, the site said it will release new terms within the next few weeks.
The Web site, which is not required to inform its users if it changes its privacy policies, had recently modified the privacy rights of its 175 million users worldwide. These new laws permitted Facebook to fully control all personal content of its users to any extent. By reverting to the old privacy policies, the Web site may not publicly display any personal data of deactivated or activated accounts.
Its user agreement states that the company has access to personal information users provide, although it will not give out contact information to third parties without permission.
Facebook may also obtain information about users from outside sources, like newspapers and other Web sites " such as instant messaging services, other users of Facebook, blogs and Facebook Platform developers to supplement your profile."
"I don't put private information on these kinds of Web sites," University of Rhode Island freshman Matt Comish, a biomedical engineer major ,said. "I don't want people to know personal information about me. You don't know who is out there."
Comish said many people don't bother to read Facebook's disclaimer when they sign up for the networking site.
"I don't want to read Facebook's Privacy Policy agreement," URI freshman Isaiah Canlas, a biology and chemistry major, said. "Let's face it, most people just click 'agree' to get it over with."
Comish added, "It would be safer if they changed the disclaimer and stopped having access to your personal information. If they are going to use your personal information, they should e-mail you and ask permission."
Facebook's privacy policy also states the Web site has the right to share personal information with third parties if Facebook feels it is necessary to offer the service to a user, if it is legally required or if it is permitted by a user.
The Web site, which is not required to inform its users if it changes its privacy policies, had recently modified the privacy rights of its 175 million users worldwide. These new laws permitted Facebook to fully control all personal content of its users to any extent. By reverting to the old privacy policies, the Web site may not publicly display any personal data of deactivated or activated accounts.
Its user agreement states that the company has access to personal information users provide, although it will not give out contact information to third parties without permission.
Facebook may also obtain information about users from outside sources, like newspapers and other Web sites " such as instant messaging services, other users of Facebook, blogs and Facebook Platform developers to supplement your profile."
"I don't put private information on these kinds of Web sites," University of Rhode Island freshman Matt Comish, a biomedical engineer major ,said. "I don't want people to know personal information about me. You don't know who is out there."
Comish said many people don't bother to read Facebook's disclaimer when they sign up for the networking site.
"I don't want to read Facebook's Privacy Policy agreement," URI freshman Isaiah Canlas, a biology and chemistry major, said. "Let's face it, most people just click 'agree' to get it over with."
Comish added, "It would be safer if they changed the disclaimer and stopped having access to your personal information. If they are going to use your personal information, they should e-mail you and ask permission."
Facebook's privacy policy also states the Web site has the right to share personal information with third parties if Facebook feels it is necessary to offer the service to a user, if it is legally required or if it is permitted by a user.
