Instagram tweets with promise to share more on its privacy changes ‘very soon’
So, you’re pissed at Instagram. The photo-sharing app announced yesterday that it is completing its transition into Facebook by updating its terms of service to give the social network access to its (your) data.
Well, Instagram has heard your outrage.
The company tweeted, “We’ve heard you that the updates to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Service are raising a lot of questions. We’ll have more to share very soon.”
This isn’t a promise that Instagram will change its Terms of Service having listened to your feedback. It might just mean that it will clear up some confusion surrounding the changes, including whether or not your photos will be used in advertisements without your permission.
As we always note with Facebook privacy changes, in the Facebook world your data still belongs to you, but by signing up, you’ve already given the social network rights to use your data. “Asking first” isn’t necessary because they already asked you, and you already agreed. Instagram, on the other hand, didn’t always operate under this shield, and thus it is getting heat from its community.
But it seems people from within Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg’s own circle are coming out against the changes as well. The CEO’s wedding photographer is unhappy with the changes, posting about her discontent (like many others) on Instagram itself. She writes:
Instagram is fun. I just started posting again and was enjoying it greatly. But this section of the TOS must change. I make a living taking and making photographs. Sometimes advertising photography. I have also appeared in advertising as an actor. My name, face and photographs are not only valuable but my livelihood. You can not take those things from me for free. The solution is pretty simple. If you want to use me or my work all you have to do is ask first. We can take it from there. If not, I have to leave, and a lot of friends are coming with.
Zuckerberg’s sister Arielle added her two cents in a much smaller way by “liking” a photo of Instagram’s new TOS that had the caption, “Instagram’s suicide note,” as caught by CNET.