Instagram, the popular photo sharing mobile app and community, has announced it is about to change its terms of service and privacy policy. This kind of policy change happens all the time on the internet but two particular things about the new Instagram privacy policy has greatly upset the user base. Firstly Instagram will be able to sell users’ photos without notification and secondly the company will be able to share user information with Facebook, other affiliates and advertisers. There is no opt-out, only the thermonuclear option of deleting your account before 16th January 2013, after which the new policy comes into effect.
Facebook acquired Instagram in April for a sum totalling US$1 billion. Earlier this month Facebook’s VP of global marketing said “Eventually we'll figure out a way to monetise Instagram” reports the BBC. Now it seems the company thinks it has found a way that it can recoup or even profit from its large investment.
Using your pictures without any compensation to you
The updated terms of service explains that Instagram is supported by advertising revenue and under the heading “Rights” says “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.” Furthermore this applies to children who have signed up to Instagram, your kid’s pictures aren’t exempt from Instagram’s new use-as- it-wishes policy.
Sneaky ads
Another interesting little amendment to the terms states that “You acknowledge that we may not always identify paid services, sponsored content, or commercial communications as such”. So some new ads won’t look like ads.
Sharing your information, making you a better ad target
The updated privacy policy headed “3. Sharing of your information”, states that “We also may share your information as well as information from tools like cookies, log files, and device identifiers and location data, with third-party organizations that help us provide the Service to you (“Service Providers”). Our Service Providers will be given access to your information as is reasonably necessary to provide the Service under reasonable confidentiality terms”.
Instagram says the new terms “help protect you and prevent spam”
Instagram’s spin on the new terms of service and privacy policy is that “Our community has grown a lot since we wrote our original terms of service. To get things up to date for the millions of people now using Instagram, we’re bringing you new versions of our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.” The company adds that “Nothing has changed about your photos’ ownership or who can see them” and that under the new terms Instagram will work with Facebook better, spam fighting will be more effective and that the “updated terms of service help protect you, and prevent spam and abuse as we grow”.
Instagram Superstar says goodbye?
Richard Koci Hernandez, a leading Instagram user with 163,000 followers is ready to give up using the service after reading through the new terms and privacy policy. The two main reasons for his decision are; protecting the people he photographs and concern for other Instagram users who make a living selling their images. However Koci is going to wait until near the time of the new terms coming into effect to see if Instagram relents and amends them.
Are you an Instagram user? Are these changes going to make you move away to another photo sharing community/app?
UPDATE: Instagram are not selling your photos without compensation!
In a post entitled Thank you, and we’re listening on the Instagram Blog, Kevin Systrom, co-founder of Instagram, said that "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". Addressing the thorny issue of seling user's photos he added that "Our intention in updating the terms was to communicate that we’d like to experiment with innovative advertising that feels appropriate on Instagram. Instead it was interpreted by many that we were going to sell your photos to others without any compensation. This is not true and it is our mistake that this language is confusing. To be clear: it is not our intention to sell your photos. We are working on updated language in the terms to make sure this is clear."
