That Facebook “Copy and Paste” Privacy Scare Is a Hoax (Again)

You may have noticed dozens of people copying and pasting this "privacy statement" declaring that Facebook cannot use your content without your consent.   It's a hoax.

This is what many people saw in early January.

"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!"

There is no Berner Convention.   This is a cleverly perpetrated hoax, designed to get people all worked up over nothing.

Facebook, says media expert attorneys, cannot retro-actively "change" it's privacy policies without you agreeing or disagreeing.  When you sign up, you agree to their privacy policy.   Depending upon how public and open you want your Facebook to be,  you do grant them royalty-free worldwide license to to use any content you post.   That does NOT include personal messages, but only what's on your public wall.

Facebook doesn't own your social media.  They simply reserve the right to use it if they wish.   This kind of thing went around a few years ago, and again last June.   It's a hoax.  But unfortunately, a lot of people have done the copy and paste thing, because the message was made to seem very authentic.

IF in doubt, you can go back and review their policies etc, on your own page.   But above all, don't worry!