Facebook wants to use my face for ads. Okay.
Update (July 25, 10:46 a.m.): Facebook reponds. New post here.
So, word on the blogging street is that Facebook has started using our photos in advertising. I haven’t seen it yet on the site, but apparently, it’s been going on for months. Mashable has a story about a husband whose wife’s photo appeared in a “hot singles” ad on his page.
At this point, if you’re a Facebook user, having your photos used for ads is the default setting:
For many months now, Facebook has been using our friends’ images in advertisements about groups, Facebook Pages, and applications. At the time, the blogosphere was debating whether or not Facebook decision to make consent a default setting was the right way to go. One Harvard law professor even suggested the ads were illegal.
via Viral Facebook Message Brings Issue Of Ad Endorsements Into Spotlight.
The Download Squad has weighed in on the issue and offers advice on how to opt out:
All you have to do to prevent this is sign in to Facebook and click through to (get ready) -> Settings -> Privacy -> News Feed and Wall -> Facebook Ads -> Appearance in Facebook Ads and click “no one.” Unless, of course, you want to be semifamous and have your picture used to push some garbage product or website without your knowledge.
via Facebook sez, “Don’t mind us, we’re just whoring out your photos”.
Everyone’s up in arms. This message is spreading like wild fire. Go to your settings immediately! Change your preferences!
But, here at the Not-So Private Parts, I must admit, um, I don’t care. I’m not even going to bother to change my settings.
I don’t really aspire to “semifamedom” (though my name — if not my face — does tend to be a recognizable one in corporate law circles, due to my Above The Law writing). I just think Facebook is an amazing creation — the company is letting me upload photos, connect with friends and colleagues, play Lexulous with my mom, and catalogue the mundanity of my life through status messages. And it lets me do it all for free.
If Facebook wants to monetize by handing off my photos to a third party for ads, well, I think that’s actually kind of okay with me. If they want to grant me a little slice of the profits, that’d be even cooler.
For those who aren’t as “whorish” about their photos as me, I’ve got bad news for you. According to AllFacebook.com, changing your settings ain’t gonna protect your face:
While Facebook assumes that the user consents to share this information, that’s not the main issue. Facebook continues to let third party ad networks use your photos as well, and making the privacy setting changes outlined in this [Download Squad] viral message will not remove your photos from third party ad networks.
via Viral Facebook Message Brings Issue Of Ad Endorsements Into Spotlight.
See more on this here.
(Thanks for sending the viral message along, Michael!)
Related articles by Zemanta
- Opt out of Facebook’s unpaid advertising endorsements. (stephendann.com)
- DownloadSquad And Facebook Users Get Confused About Facebook’s Advertising Policy (allfacebook.com)
- ASK DLS: ad using photo was from a third party app, is Facebook off the hook? (downloadsquad.com)
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Can’t say I’d be thrilled about my wife’s pix put on ads for “hot singles” myself, despite the inadvertent compliment paid. Stuff like this is why I just can’t bring myself to open a facebook account, no matter how many times I’m friended (or how many people are put off by my not friending them).
I’ve seen it Kashmir, and it’s really disconcerting. Your friends’ faces pop up on ads directed at you, seemingly at random. Not all instances are as (borderline) complimentary as hot singles. And isn’t it illegal to use someone’s image for profit without their permission? The hidden option to opt out hardly seems sufficient.
I consulted with a lawyer friend about your question, Jeff. He says the law is a bit murky when it comes to this. Famous people actually have more rights than we non-famous types when it comes to their images.
Right of publicity law generally only protects likenesses that actually have value. So Woody Allen could sue American Apparel for using his likeness on its billboard, but some “random person” whose Flickr photo was used likely couldn’t. There’s a bit more here: http://www.publaw.com/rightpriv.html
At last, a sensible reason to become famous.
[...] Kashmir Hill wrote an interesting post today onKashmir Hill – The Not-So Private Parts – <b>Facebook</b> wants to use <b>my</b> <b>…</b>Here’s a quick excerpt [...]