Facebook debunks circulating privacy hoaxes

Two Facebook hoaxes about privacy concerns have been circulating over the past few days. The official page of the social media site dismissed the rumors on Tuesday (September 29).

Below is one of the posts circulating:

“As of September 29th , 2015 at 07:25 a.m. I do not give Facebook or any entities associated with Facebook permission to use my pictures, information, or posts, both past and future. By this statement, I give notice to Facebook it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, or take any other action against me based o n this profile and/or its contents. The content of this profile is private and confidential information. The violation of privacy can be punished by law (UCC 1-308- 1 1 308-103 and the Rome Statute). NOTE: Facebook is now a public entity. All members must post a note like this. If you prefer, you can copy and paste this version. If you do not publish a statement at least once it will be tactically allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in the profile status updates. DO NOT SHARE. You MUST copy and paste.”

Another post going around Facebook is that the social media site will be requiring a subscription fee to be able to keep users’ posts private. It said that to waive the fee, users must share the said status.

“Now it’s official! It has been published in the media. Facebook has just released the entry price: £5.99 ($9.10) to keep the subscription of your status to be set to “private.” If you paste this message on your page, it will be offered free (I said paste not share) if not tomorrow, all your posts can become public. Even the messages that have been deleted or the photos not allowed. After all, it does not cost anything for a simple copy and paste.”

Facebook has debunked both claims that has been going around for days.

“Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet today. Facebook is free and it always will be. And the thing about copying and pasting a legal notice is just a hoax,” it said in a post.

Back in 2012, Facebook also responded to privacy hoaxes.

“There is a rumor circulating that Facebook is making a change related to ownership of users’ information or the content they post to the site. This is false. Anyone who uses Facebook owns and controls the content and information they post, as stated in our terms.”

In its terms of service — something that you have to agree to — Facebook states that users own all the content and information they post on Facebook and only the user can control how it is shared through your privacy and application settings.

Source: CNN