facebook policy primer
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FacebookPolicy PrimerKey features and related issues of the terms of use of Facebook.
By Sophie Galati
What is Facebook?
A free social networking service.
Where you can create your own personal profile.
Allows you to easily interact with friends and family online.
Used for sharing content, posting status’, instant messaging.
Facebook users must agree to certain terms of use.
Did you read the terms of use of Facebook when you joined?
Did you read the terms of use of Facebook when you joined?
It’s likely that you didn’t.The majority of Internet users admit to not
reading the terms of use of online platforms or services, simply because they are boring or
difficult to understand (Smithers, 2011).
These concerns relate to Internet politics and power and include:
Ownership of Content Privacy Surveillance Censorship Freedom of Expression
This presentation will summarise the key features of Facebook’s terms of use and
the concerns that they raise.
Ownership of Content
A significant concept discussed within Facebook’s terms of use is the:
When you upload content to Facebook, it becomes Facebook’s property.
It is their property until you have deleted it.
When you upload content to Facebook, it becomes Facebook’s property.
It is their property until you have deleted it.
Unless, of course, your friend also has a copy of the content.
“…transferable, sub-licensable, royalty free, worldwide license…”
What exactly does
mean?
This means that Facebook can license your content to others for free without obtaining your approval (Delsack, 2012).
Privacy
Facebook’s terms of use should rightfully spark concerns about
Even if you consider yourself to be private online, that doesn’t mean others can’t and won’t share your
information.
“We receive information about you from your friends and others, such as when they
upload your contact information, post a photo of you, tag you in a photo or status update, or at a location, or add you to a
group…”
In Facebook’s Data Use Policy, the following is stated:
So, even if you feel in control of the content you yourself share,
You should also be aware of the information that Facebook receives about you from
others.
To ensure a more increased privacy, you should utlise Facebook’s privacy settings to manage who can see the content you
post and who can contact you.
“Sometimes you will not be able to select an audience when you post something.
This is because some types of stories are always public
stories.”
However, even if you are cautious or attentive with your privacy settings, Facebook’s terms of
use includes the following statement:
“Sometimes you will not be able to select an audience when you post something.
This is because some types of stories are always public
stories.”
However, even if you are cautious or attentive with your privacy settings, Facebook’s terms of
use includes the following statement:
Therefore, you should always be careful about what information you choose to share.
Facebook no longer allows users to be “unsearchable”
A recent change to Facebook’s privacy settings means that all users can now be searchable on the site.
Luckily, only content that users have publically shared will be available to those outside of their network (Wagner, 2013).
However, if you desire to be almost completely private on Facebook, it is no longer possible.
A main concern for privacy is Facebook’s reliance on advertising.
“Online marketers and other Internet companies seek to profit from the Internet’s unique ability to track the comings and goings of users, allowing for more focused and therefore more lucrative
advertising” (Zeller, 2006).
With a social network as popular and comprehensive as Facebook, it is no exception for this sought after profit.
“…we may use the information we receive about you to measure or understand the effectiveness of ads you and others see…”
This snippet from the terms of use raises questions that maybe Facebook doesn’t really care about our privacy?
Social networking sites don’t just focus on individuals, they predominantly focus on making a profit from turning user data into trends and patterns (Stoddart, 2007).
This insufficient lack of care for individuals extends from a lack of care of their privacy.
Surveillance
Surveillance can be referred to as “a focused attention to personal details aimed at exerting influence over or managing the objects of the data” (Lyon, 2002).
This is a significant mode of governance in information societies and exists among Facebook.
“We receive data about you whenever you interact with Facebook, such as when you look at another person’s timeline, send or receive a message, search for a friend or a Page, click on, view or otherwise
interact with things, use a Facebook mobile app, or purchase Facebook Credits or make other purchases through Facebook.”
“We receive data about you whenever you interact with Facebook, such as when you look at another person’s timeline, send or receive a message, search for a friend or a Page, click on, view or otherwise
interact with things, use a Facebook mobile app, or purchase Facebook Credits or make other purchases through Facebook.”
So, pretty much everything you do on Facebook, even the simple act of searching for something, is under surveillance.
Information Facebook is probably collecting from you:
Name
Age
Gender
Email Address
Photos
Videos
Tags
Profiles you
look at
Who you chat to
Relationship status
Likes
Political affiliation
Which websites you visit
Anything you
purchase with
Facebook CreditsIP address
GPS location
Favourite movies, music, books
(Couts 2012)
Censorship
The notion of surveillance can lead to the related issue of:
“We also impose limitations on the display of nudity. We aspire to respect people’s right to share
content of personal importance, whether those are photos of a
sculpture like Michelangelo's David or family photos of a child
breastfeeding.”
In theory, this is a beneficial term of use for Facebook users as it:
Limits the risk of sharing pornographic content, Restricts immoral and illegal content, such as
child pornography. Regulates the sharing of content that can be
harmful to Facebook’s broad audience.
This has however led to undeserved censorship.
(Ravelo, 2012).
Erik Ravelo’s artwork was censored by Facebook and he has been prevented from uploading more images.
The controversial nature of the artwork about issues plaguing children is assumed to be the reason for its censorship.
The artwork does not feature nudity, pornography and isn’t threatening, which raises questions about the amount of power and control Facebook is exuding.
the freedom of expression
The censorship on Facebook can raise concerns about the related issue of:
Freedom of Expression
The Internet offers a great opportunity for users to easily make their thoughts and opinions available to a large audience (Fisher, 2001).
When analysing Facebook’s terms of use, this opportunity isn’t necessarily obtainable.
“You will not post content that is hate speech, threatening or pornographic”
(Safety, #7)
Users are not free to post whatever they please.
In most cases, this is for the benefit of all other users, creating an appropriate and safe network.
It can still be said that the limitations within Facebook’s terms of use and its resulting control can undermine a user’s freedom.
In conclusion, the key features of Facebook’s terms of use:
Ownership of content As soon as you upload content to Facebook, it
becomes Facebook’s content as well. Facebook can do with it as they please.
Privacy Your information can be received from others as well
as yourself. Facebook’s dependence on advertising has
empowered them to collect data from users, disregarding their privacy.
Surveillance Facebook keeps track of your Facebook activity.
Censorship There are limits on what you can and cannot post. Facebook has the ability to remove content that
they believe goes against their terms.
Freedom of Expression Users are not free to share anything they want.
There is content that is prohibited. This can be beneficial, creating a safe and
appropriate network for all users.
I hope that this presentation has helped you to better understand Facebook’s policies and how it affects you.
The key features of Facebook’s terms of use policies evidently raise concerns that involve all users
References
Couts, A. (2012) Terms & Conditions: Facebook's 'Data Use Policy' Explained. Retrieved 12 October, 2013 from: http://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/terms-conditions-facebooks-data-use-policy-explained/ Delsack, C (2012). Who Owns Photos and Videos Posted on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? Retrieved 12 October, 2013 from: http://www.nyccounsel.com/business-blogs-websites/who-owns-photos-and-videos-posted-on-facebook-or-twitter/
Facebook. (2012). Facebook Terms and Policies. Facebook. Retrieved 8 September, 2013 from: www.facebook.com/policies.
Fisher, W. (2001). Freedom of Expression on the Internet . Retrieved September 8, 2013, from The Berkman Center for Internet & Society: http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/ilaw/Speech/ Lyon, D. (2002) “Everday Surveillance: Personal Data and Social Classification.” Information, Communication and Society 5, no. 1 Retrieved from: http://www.casa.ucl.ac.uk/cyberspace/lyon_ics.pdf Ravelo, E. (2012) “Fast Food.” [image] Fabrica. The Untouchables.
Stoddart, J (2007) Privacy and Social Networks. Retrieved 9 October, 2013 from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7gWEgHeXcA&feature=player_embedded
Smithers, R. (2011) Terms and Conditions: Not Reading the Small Print can Mean Big Problems. The Guardian. Retrieved 2 October, 2013, from: http://www.theguardian.com/money/2011/may/11/terms-conditions-small-print-big-problems
Images have been screen-shot from Facebook.Surveillance image is from Microsoft’s clipart collection.
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