Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Instagram angers users with new privacy policy

1 hr.

The nation's supply of old-timey photos of?whatever it is?you're eating may take a serious hit if Instagram users make good on threats to leave the the photo-sharing service following its new privacy policy.?

"We know these documents are a little dry, but they?re very important," reads Instagram's opening salvo. "Please take a moment to read through them so you keep feeling comfortable sharing your beautiful photos on Instagram."?

Good luck with that.?

Privacy advocates and users alike are interpreting the dense legalese of the new policy,?which goes into effect on Jan. 16, as permission for Instagram to use all?publicly?shared images like its stockpile of stock photos, farming out your bathroom mirror self portraits, or whatever, to?advertisers?willing to pay. (Pay Facebook via Instagram ? not pay you and/or the photographer.)

"Really,?Instagram? Purchased for $1B in inflated FB stock and you're going to start selling members' pictures? Street Artists best?leave?now," read one tweet of warning.?

"I came late to?Instagram, but I will?leave?early," noted another.

For what it's worth, Instagram isn't claiming it owns your "Content" (with a capital "C"). It's just apparently?going to sell it like it does. As the new user agreement reads:

Instagram does not claim ownership of any Content that you post on or through the Service. Instead, you hereby grant to Instagram a non-exclusive, fully paid and royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, worldwide license to use the Content that you post on or through the Service, except that you can control who can view certain of your Content and activities on the Service as described in the Service's Privacy Policy, available here:http://instagram.com/legal/privacy/.

You have the option of deleting your account by Jan. 16, says the new agreement. After that, it's a done deal, you have no way to opt out. Further, photos you posted prior to Jan. 16 are eligible for licensing by Instagram for?an amount of time not specified in the new privacy policy.?

If you do choose to?stay, you may also be agreeing not to hold Instagram liable if it makes a whoopsie and exposes what you marked as private content, a mishap that's happened over at Facebook over the years. According to the new policy,?"None of your Content will be subject to any obligation of confidence on the part of Instagram, and Instagram will not be liable for any use or disclosure of any Content you provide."

Whether the Internet outrage actually does encourage an exodus from Instagram is doubtful, considering how many users never follow through on their threats to leave its owner, Facebook.?

As one Twitter user puts it, "I wish I had the strength to?leave?Instagram?... but I can't do it. No matter how badly it treats me."

Then again, at least some are seeing the bright side of staying: "I can understand why some people won't leave Instagram. Imagine the thrill of seeing your sandwich on somebody's billboard!"

Helen A.S. Popkin?goes?blah blah blah about Internet privacy, then asks you to follow her?on?Twitter?and/or?Facebook.?Also,?Google+.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/instagram-angers-users-new-privacy-policy-1C7660196

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