Facebook Using Photos For Third Party Advertisers Is Just A Rumor
Posted: Saturday, July 25, 2009
by Asher Ricard
Facebook users have been bombarded this week with friends warnings about the company personally using their photos in advertisements.
Status updates have been stating the following:
ALERT: Facebook has agreed to let third party advertisers use your posted pictures without your permission. Click on "Settings" up at the top where you see the "Logout" link. Select "Privacy". Then select "News Feed and Wall". Next, select the tab that reads "Facebook Ads". In the drop down box, select "No One". Then save your changes. Do it now. Help your friends...cut and paste this into your status.
Facebook is very clear in saying and wanting to get the word out that these rumors are false!
According to the Facebook blog: "The advertisements that started these rumors were not from Facebook but placed within applications by third parties. Those ads violated our policies by misusing profile photos, and we already required the removal of those deceptive ads from third-party applications before this rumor began spreading."
Facebook goes on to say, "We are as concerned as many of you are about any potential threat to your experience on Facebook and the protection of your privacy. That's why we prohibit ads on Facebook Platform that cause a bad user experience, are misleading, or otherwise violate our policies. Along with removing ads, we've recently prohibited two entire advertising networks from providing services to applications on Facebook Platform because they were not compliant with our policies and failed to correct their practices."
From all that I have researched about Facebook as a company, I have no doubt they are the opposite of the normal corporate evil empire.
Before you freak out fearing your picture will end up on an STD advertisement like Joey in Friends, know that Facebook has taken every precaution to protect you. The Facebook policy is clear in stating ads can be triggered based on "relevant social action". In other words if you mention going to Hawaii, then a Hawaiian ad may appear. Alas, It will not grant permission to pull photos into ads.
I encourage you to visit the Facebook blog to learn more about who the company is and to find out about false rumors. It is enlightening.
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