Facebook recently issued a notification to all its users, declaring the change in its terms and policies with effect from January 1: “By using our services after Jan 1, you agree to our updated terms, data policy and cookies policy and to seeing improved ads based on apps and sites you use. Learn more about these updates and how to control the ads you see.”

Some saw this as a standard update. But, as is generally the case on the internet, there were several users who hit the panic button in response to this imminent apocalypse and posted this “declaration” in response to the notification:

“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, [date], in response to the new Facebook guidelines and under articles L.111, 112 and 113 of the code of intellectual property, I declare that my rights are attached to all my personal data, drawings, paintings, photos, texts etc… published on my profile since the day I opened my account. For commercial use of the foregoing my written consent is required at all times.”

Furthermore, the message encouraged other users to copy the text and paste it on their Facebook wall as it “will allow them to place themselves under the protection of copyright”.

“By this release, I tell Facebook that it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, broadcast, or to take any other action against me on the basis of this profile and/or its contents. The actions mentioned above apply equally to employees, students, agents and/or other staff under the direction of Facebook.” The message itself, ironically, has been copied from one profile to another.

“The contents of my profile include private information. The violation of my privacy is punished by the law (UCC 1 1-308 – 308 1 -103 and the Rome Statute). Facebook is now an open capital entity. All members are invited to post a notice of this kind, or if you prefer, you can copy and paste this version. If you have not published this statement at least once, you will tacitly allow the use of elements such as your photos as well as the information contained in your profile update.”

This isn’t the first time panic over privacy has taken place either. The formula goes like this – whenever Facebook updates its terms and policies, mass hysteria ensues with several versions of the same post going viral on the internet. Speaking to Newslaundry, Carson Dalton, Head of Communications at Facebook India, confirmed that these were “hoax” messages.

Moreover, a deeper look at the messages reveal the lack of legal context to it. The Uniform Commercial Code holds jurisdiction only over the US. The Rome Statute, which establishes the International Criminal Court, does not deal with privacy on the web. As for the articles L.111, 112 and 113 of the code of intellectual property, the post makes no reference to any specific legal enactment whatsoever. Regardless of copy-paste “declarations”, every user agrees to Facebook’s governing terms and conditions at the time of signing up for an account.

Cyber Law expert Pavan Duggal, in conversation with Newslaundry, called this circulation a “legitimate concern”, yet an act of “herd mentality” on the part of users. “Our content on Facebook is not secure. We are ‘products’ of this platform, bound by its terms and conditions”, said Duggal. He added that people need to keep their eyes and ears open while sharing content as “nine out of 10 users do not read the legal terms that govern Facebook”.

When a web service is free, the concept of privacy often evaporates. Earlier this year, Internet giant Google was at the receiving end of criticism over its use of software to scan the personal content of its users. The automated software employed by Google analyses the content of users’ mails to provide relevant “product features, tailored advertising” and the like according to a report by The Guardian. Facebook employs a similar interest-based approach towards advertising where a user is showcased a set of advertisements according to their usage of website and applications that fall under “Facebook families of companies, apps and services” category. In simpler words, our activities on the web are monitored in one way or another.

Privacy continues to remain a delicate issue on the internet as there’s still speculation surrounding the sharing of personal information by web services with advertisers. While no number of status updates can prompt Facebook to make our internet space more secure, the paranoia will persist on the ever-evolving social media.

With inputs from Sakshi Chandra.