Facebook Reverses Its ToS Change
By Brandon Lovested on Feb 18, 2009 in Copyright Law, Featured, Privacy/security, Web 2.0 | comments(0)
The folks over at Facebook seem overwhelmed by the response they have received since Sunday, when the website The Consumerist posted an article about a change in Facebook’s Terms of Service.
About-Face (Book)
Notice of their reversal was available on their service today:
Over the past few days, we have received a lot of feedback about the new terms we posted two weeks ago. Because of this response, we have decided to return to our previous Terms of Use while we resolve the issues that people have raised. For more information, visit the Facebook Blog.
If you want to share your thoughts on what should be in the new terms, check out our group Facebook Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.
In an article in today’s New York Times, Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg seemed apologetic, but does not say the matter is closed.
In a Facebook posting on Wednesday, Mr. Zuckerberg said: “A couple of weeks ago, we revised our terms of use hoping to clarify some parts for our users. Over the past couple of days, we received a lot of questions and comments about the changes and what they mean for people and their information. Based on this feedback, we have decided to return to our previous terms of use while we resolve the issues that people have raised.”
The posting said the decision to return to previous terms was “the right thing for now.”
Mr. Zuckerberg added that Facebook’s next revision of terms would reflect “a new approach” and would be “a substantial revision from where we are now.”
He promised Facebook users “a lot of input in crafting these terms.”
Indeed. Zuckerberg basically regrets the confusion the text has caused, but the reworked version to the ToS is only temporary.
On one hand, the policy makes sense – if a user posts pictures that become part of mix of content that dozens of others comment upon or is otherwise incorporated into other’s Facebook experience, then its removal would create gaping holes all over the place. Compound that with the ebb and flow of thousands of users leaving or joining each day, and you have swiss cheese.