Posting This 'Privacy Notice' on Your Facebook Page Won't Actually Do Anything

By Renee Schiavone:

A new Facebook hoax has been making the rounds in recent days, and it’s got a lot of users concerned for the security of their information.

Perhaps you have seen it? Or even shared it yourself? The message reads something like this:

In response to the new Facebook guidelines, I hereby declare that my copyright is attached to all of my personal details, illustrations, comics, paintings, professional photos and videos, etc. (as a result of the Berner Convention). For commercial use of the above my written consent is needed at all times!

Or, here’s a more detailed version, as provided by snopes.com:

Due to the fact that Facebook has chosen to involve software that will allow the theft of my personal information, I state: at this date of January 4, 2015, in response to the new guidelines of Facebook, pursuant to articles L.111, 112 and 113 of the code of intellectual property, I declare that my rights are attached to all my personal data drawings, paintings, photos, video, texts etc. published on my profile and my page. For commercial use of the foregoing my written consent is required at all times.

Those who read this text can do a copy/paste on their Facebook wall. This will allow them to place themselves under the protection of copyright. By this statement, I tell Facebook that it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, broadcast, or take any other action against me on the basis of this profile and or its content. The actions mentioned above also apply to employees, students, agents and or other personnel under the direction of Facebook.

The content of my profile contains private information. The violation of my privacy is punishable by law (UCC 1-308 1-308 1-103 and the Rome Statute).

Facebook is now an open capital entity. All members are invited to publish a notice of this kind, or if they prefer, you can copy and paste this version.

If you have not published this statement at least once, you tacitly allow the use of elements such as your photos as well as the information contained in the profile update.

Basically, the idea behind the post is that by writing this, you’ll protect your information.

Patch reached out to Facebook to determine if there’s any truth to this, and they confirm that the whole thing is fake.

“I can confirm that this is a hoax,” Facebook media representative Brandon Lepow told Patch by email Monday. “The status update isn’t necessary, because people own the content and information they share on Facebook.”

Here are some places where you can find out more about how Facebook handles your content:

• https://www.facebook.com/help/193430577370347
• https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms
• https://www.facebook.com/fbsitegovernance/posts/10152840679374323

What’s more, as The Huffington Post points out, remember that you can’t change the Terms of Service you agreed to upon sign-up with a simple status update.

(Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone)

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