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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Facebook: Uh, Never Mind That Last Update

Privacy protests result in a swift U-turn on terms of service

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(Newser) – Facebook has done an about-face and withdrawn its new terms of service following a public outcry, CNET reports. The fine-print update appeared to give the site perpetual rights to users' content, prompting threats of a federal complaint from a major privacy watchdog and mass desertion from tens of thousands of users.

"We concluded that returning to our previous terms was the right thing for now," Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a blog post yesterday. Zuckerberg said the company was busy drafting an updated, clearly written terms of service agreement that would sync with the "principles and values" of Facebook users, and he promised that they would be given plenty of input.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg participates in a plenary session at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 30, 2009.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg participates in a plenary session at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 30, 2009.   (AP Photo/KEYSTONE/Peter Klaunzer)
Facebook users concerned about terms that appeared to grant the website rights to their content in perpetuity threatened to leave the site en masse.
Facebook users concerned about terms that appeared to grant the website rights to their content in perpetuity threatened to leave the site en masse.   (©bpedro)
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Our terms aren't just a document that protect our rights; it's the governing document for how the service is used by everyone across the world.
- Mark Zuckerberg

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2 comments
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Mr.C
Feb 18, 09 8:44 AM CST
they changed the terms of service twice, but never their behavior - they have always kept information on people even after they delete their accounts Reply
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radnip
Feb 18, 09 11:03 AM CST
Facebook needs a new law firm, one that understands "use" for intellectual property without asking for all rights. Reply
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