Facebook's Doppelganger Week violates own Terms of Service?
TJ DIMACALI, GMANews.TV
02/03/2010 | 05:05 PM
"Doppelganger Week," the latest meme to sweep through Facebook, has everyone on the social media site uploading photos of celebrities that supposedly resemble themselves in what may be a direct violation of Facebook's own Terms of Service (ToS).
As with previous memes, it's not clear how and where Doppelganger Week started, but it has reportedly been spreading through messages and status updates since early last week. No specific dates were given for the duration of Doppelganger Week, although it seems to be generally accepted to encompass February 1 to 7.
'Switched at birth'?
"Change your profile picture to someone famous (actor, musician, athlete, etc.) you have been told you look like. After you update your profile with your twin or switched at birth photo then cut/paste this to your status," according to Facebook members who have joined in the meme.
However, observers at technology website CNET.com have noted that the meme may, in fact, be in violation of Facebook's own ToS to all of its over 350 million users.
Facebook regulations
According to Facebook's Terms of Service, users "will not post content or take any action on Facebook that infringes or violates someone else's rights or otherwise violates the law. [Facebook] can remove any content or information you post... if we believe that it violates this Statement."
"Unless you took that celebrity photo yourself or bought the rights to it, it may be in violation," said CNET staff writer Caroline McCarthy.
With just about half a week left to go, Facebook has yet to receive any requests from celebrities or other entities asking that Doppelganger Week photos be taken down, according to CNET. - GMANews.TV
As with previous memes, it's not clear how and where Doppelganger Week started, but it has reportedly been spreading through messages and status updates since early last week. No specific dates were given for the duration of Doppelganger Week, although it seems to be generally accepted to encompass February 1 to 7.
'Switched at birth'?
"Change your profile picture to someone famous (actor, musician, athlete, etc.) you have been told you look like. After you update your profile with your twin or switched at birth photo then cut/paste this to your status," according to Facebook members who have joined in the meme.
However, observers at technology website CNET.com have noted that the meme may, in fact, be in violation of Facebook's own ToS to all of its over 350 million users.
Facebook regulations
According to Facebook's Terms of Service, users "will not post content or take any action on Facebook that infringes or violates someone else's rights or otherwise violates the law. [Facebook] can remove any content or information you post... if we believe that it violates this Statement."
"Unless you took that celebrity photo yourself or bought the rights to it, it may be in violation," said CNET staff writer Caroline McCarthy.
With just about half a week left to go, Facebook has yet to receive any requests from celebrities or other entities asking that Doppelganger Week photos be taken down, according to CNET. - GMANews.TV
