I have observed with keen interest posts about Facebook Privacy Notice, which are being copied all over the place. The so-called aim of this Privacy post is to deny Facebook using your personal data and stuffs without prior written notice.  Folks, I declare to you that this is a hoax.

The post normally starts like this:

“Due to the fact that Facebook has chosen to involve software that will allow the theft of my personal information, I do declare the following: on this day, July 1st 2016, in response to the new Facebook guidelines and under articles L.111, 112 and 113 of the code of intellectual property…“

Another example goes like this:

“Warning!!! – Any person and/or institution and/or Agent and/or Agency of any governmental structure including but not limited to the United States Federal Government also using or monitoring/using this website or any of its associated websites, you DO NOT have my permission to utilize any of my profile information nor any of the content contained herein including, but not limited to my photos, and…/or the comments made about my photos or any other “picture” art posted on my profile…”

Another hoax of this sort started months days ago and it goes like this:

“Everything you’ve ever posted becomes public from tomorrow. 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…”

We call these types of posts hoax, because they are not true. I don’t blame people for falling victim, but I hope this simple guideline will help many people in the future from falling victim to this type of hoax.

Six or seven years ago, I would have fallen victim myself. Whenever I see this type of post, what I do first is to google and see if it’s true or not. If it’s a hoax or scam, Google will return web pages with such information. So, it’s simple. Google is your friend – use it to verify the accuracy of such posts in the future before copying and posting it on your Facebook wall.

Lastly, you have a contract with Facebook whether you’re aware or not. And it is this contract that determines how Facebook uses your data. All you share with Facebook are governed by three main things:

1. Facebook Terms of Service
2. Facebook Data Use Policy; and
3. Your Privacy Settings.

No amount of legal terms you put on your wall supersedes those three. For example, if you make your post public, it means anyone can see it and use it by associating you with it. So if you want to know how your Facebook data is being used, spend time and read the Terms of Service and Data Use Policy of Facebook. Above all, don’t forget, Facebook is a Social Media, not Private Media. Make sure you’re careful in whatever you’re sharing on Facebook. So, don’t be deceived – such posts are viral hoax.