Facebook has caused privacy concerns regarding user uploaded images once again after previously stating firmly that all uploaded images can be used as stock photography without credit to the uploader or permission. This is part of the privacy policy which is accepted upon creating an account. This time, Facebook has agreed to allow third party advertisers the use of uploaded images without permission.

A married woman's photo appeared in an advertisement for a dating service which her husband noticed. They took this with a sense of humour, but the general public are not amused at the privacy violation which ensued. Although the privacy policy states that all intellectual property still belongs to the user, it also allows Facebook to use it however they wish.

The main problem is the applications which are integrated into the profiles of the users (quizzes, games, crush predictions), which the user may forget to later remove after posting their results. By accepting the application, authorisation to access all details is given (unless explicitly stated otherwise in the settings), and since the applications are not removed, this authorisation remains indefinitely. Facebook users can counter against this by remembering to remove applications such as quizzes after they are completed (Applications > Edit Apps > X icon) and by preventing their name from being used in advertisements. (Settings > Privacy > News Feed and Wall > Facebook Ads > Appearance in Facebook Ads > ''no one'')

Some applications, however, violate the terms further by caching the data they are authorised to access, potentially giving them wide scope to harvest personal details and images. Some users report their images being used on external sites outside Facebook.

My advice will be not to install applications which may seem suspicious or have very low star ratings, and to remove small applications such as quizzes after the results have been posted, so as not to allow the creator of the application (and the application itself) further access to your details. I am on the extreme side which almost always removes applications after their usage, doesn't join groups or become fans of pages, and takes caution in accepting requests. This limits the visible scope of my personal information.

Alex Kara