New Delhi, August 20: An old fake message, which claims that Facebook will take over all the photos uploaded by users and make them public, has resurfaced on social media and WhatsApp. The hoax message, which is going viral again on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, says users will have to post a note stating that the social networking site doesn't have their permission to prevent their photos from going public.

The fake post said Facebook will dig out users' messages, even deleted ones, and make them public. Not just Facebook and WhatsApp, the hoax message had also spilt over to Twitter. Did UNESCO Declare Indian National Anthem Jana Gana Mana Best in The World? Old Fake News Resurfaces Thanks to JD(U) Leader Dr Ajay Alok.

Fake message being shared on Facebook and Twitter:

Below is the fake message:

Don’t forget tomorrow starts the new Facebook rule where they can use your photos. Don't forget Deadline today!!! It can be used in court cases in litigation against you. Everything you've ever posted becomes public from today Even messages that have been deleted or the photos not allowed. It costs nothing for a simple copy and paste, better safe than sorry. Channel 13 News talked about the change in Facebook's privacy policy. I do not give Facebook or any entities associated with Facebook permission to use my pictures, information, messages or posts, both past and future. With this statement, I give notice to Facebook it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, or take any other action against me based on this profile and/or its contents. The content of this profile is private and confidential information. The violation of privacy can be punished by law (UCC 1-308- 1 1 308-103 and the Rome Statute. NOTE: Facebook is now a public entity. All members must post a note like this. If you prefer, you can copy and paste this version. If you do not publish a statement at least once it will be tacitly allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in the profile status updates. FACEBOOK DOES NOT HAVE MY PERMISSION TO SHARE PHOTOS OR MESSAGES.

The fact is the message is fake and it is a scam. This message had gone viral seven years ago. A US-based fact-checking website Snopes had then debunked these claims. Apart from missing words, poor grammar and incorrect use of capital letters, the biggest reason to doubt the veracity of this message is that Facebook doesn't own your content.

Facebook's Terms and Conditions section says, "You (users) own the intellectual property rights (things such as copyright or trademarks) in any such content that you (users) create and share on Facebook and the other Facebook Company Products you use."

However, the social networking site also states: "Specifically, when you share, post or upload content that is covered by intellectual property rights on or in connection with our Products, you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free and worldwide licence to host, use, distribute, modify, run, copy, publicly perform or display, translate and create derivative works of your content (consistent with your privacy and application settings)."

But this doesn't mean you grant Facebook ownership of your content. As a Facebook user, you grant Facebook a right to use, share and distribute your content in accordance with your privacy settings that you can change i.e share only with friends or share publicly.

Fact check

Facebook to Make All Your Photos And Messages Public? Fake Post Resurfaces, Here's The Truth
Claim :

Facebook will take over all the photos uploaded by users and make them public.

Conclusion :

It is an old fake message. Facebook doesn't own users' content.

Full of Trash
Clean

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2019 05:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).