Instagram created quite an uproar this week when they changed their terms of service (TOS).
In the new terms, Instragram shredded any doubt about the privacy of photos uploaded to the photo sharing service.
The new TOS included the statement: “To help us deliver interesting paid or sponsored content or promotions, you agree that a business or other entity may pay us to display your username, likeness, photos (along with any associated metadata), and/or actions you take, in connection with paid or sponsored content or promotions, without any compensation to you.”
In other words, users were told that Instagram could sell photos users uploaded to their servers. Heck, not only the user’s photos. but also their username and any actions a user takes on the service. Yikes!
This touched off a lighten storm of criticism and complains online. Instagram users took to Twitter and Facebook to complain, and some called for a boycott.
Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom responded through the company’s blog, stating “I’m writing this today to let you know we’re listening and to commit to you that we will be doing more to answer your questions, fix any mistakes, and eliminate the confusion.”
Despite the new terms appearing to be clear about Instagram’s intentions, Systrom blamed some of the confusion on legalize. “Legal documents are easy to misinterpret,” he said, “To be clear: it is not our intention to sell your photos.”
When it comes to ownership rights, Systrom said “Instagram users own their content and Instagram does not claim any ownership rights over your photos. Nothing about this has changed.”
The new TOS was scheduled to start on January 16, 2013, though according to the blog post, specific parts will be modified, so there is no telling if that date will hold at this point.
Do Instagram’s ‘clarifications’ relive your fears or just annoy the heck out of you? Leave your comments below!
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