Photo-sharing service Instagram has risked the wrath of users by unveiling a terms of service document that may allow the site to sell on their pictures without consent.
The firm, which was acquired by social networking giant Facebook several months ago for $1 billion, announced the changes in a blog post yesterday. They are set to come into effect on 16 January 2013.
I am not down with my Instagram images being used in ads.
The document states that, while Instagram will not claim any ownership rights over users' images they post on the site, its terms of use mean that third parties can pay the company to use their photos.
"You hereby grant 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," it states.
"To help us deliver interesting paid or sponsored content...you agree that a business or other entity may pay us to display your username, likeness, photos and/or actions you take...without any compensation to you," it added.
The post has prompted outcry from users in the Instagram blog's comment section and on Twitter, where many users have posted screengrabs of them deleting their accounts.
"I am not down with my Instagram images [being] used in ads, unless they come up with [an] opt-out," wrote one user.
The company recently riled users by making it harder for them to post their pictures to Twitter, a move some have linked to a story broken by Reuters yesterday about the microblogging site's reported attempt to buy the site before Facebook stepped in.
One user added: "I don't actually care about my privacy that much, I just want to be able to see pictures on Twitter again."
-
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says enterprises shouldn’t be sharing so much data with AI providersNews The Microsoft chief warned that corporate data could be at risk thanks to AI models
-
Intel to expand European chip production with €5bn Ireland investmentNews The company said the plans will create hundreds of jobs and help secure semiconductor supply chains across the EU
-
Meta to pay $725 million in Cambridge Analytica lawsuit settlementNews The settlement closes the long-running lawsuit into how Facebook's owner, Meta, handled the Cambridge Analytica scandal
-
Meta's earnings are 'cause for concern' and 2023 looks even bleakerAnalysis Calls for investor faith in metaverse tech only emphasise the worries that its investment strategy won't pay off
-
Microsoft and Meta announce integration deal between Teams and WorkplaceNews Features from both business collaboration platforms will be available to users without having to switch apps
-
Facebook is shutting down its controversial facial recognition systemNews The move will see more than a billion facial templates removed from Facebook's records amid a push for more private applications of the technology
-
'Changing name to Meat': Industry reacts to Facebook's Meta rebrandNews The rebrand attempts to provide a clearer distinction between Facebook and its umbrella company
-
Facebook's Oversight Board demands more transparencyNews Board bashed the social media giant for its preferential treatment of certain high-profile accounts
-
Facebook claims AI managed to reduce hate speech by 50%News The social media platform has hit back at claims the tech it uses to fight hate speech is inadequate
-
Facebook to hire 10,000 workers across the EUNews The high-skilled jobs drive is a “vote of confidence” in the European tech industry
