On November 22, Georgian-language Facebook users (1; 2; 3; 4; 5;), including Koba Jakobia, who is known for frequently spreading disinformation, shared an identical claim alleging that Facebook (Meta) had introduced a new rule allowing the company to use users’ personal photos. In their posts, Facebook users write that they do not grant Facebook or any company affiliated with it the right to use their photos. The posts also state that everyone must publish such a text and that failure to do so will be considered “indirect consent” to the use of their personal information and photos.
The claim that Meta will use users’ photos, messages, and posts under a new rule is false. A detailed explanation of how Meta collects and uses users’ personal information is available in Meta’s privacy policy. The company has not added any new rule to its privacy statement.
Information on what kind of data Meta collects and processes is public and can be found in its privacy policy. Neither Meta nor any open sources have reported any amendments to Meta’s privacy policy.
- What information does Meta collect and why?
According to the Meta Privacy Center, data collected and processed by its social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads) includes the content users post on the platforms, the personal data required to create an account, and information about the browsers and devices through which users access Meta platforms. Some of this data must be provided for the platforms to function, while other data is optional; however, refusing to provide optional data may negatively affect the quality of the user experience.
Users’ profile photos and posts are part of the public information that users themselves place on the platforms, and Meta collects this information for various purposes. One of the main reasons is to improve its products, which includes personalizing features, content, and recommendations.
It is also worth noting that this is not the first time such claims have circulated. In April 2024, Myth Detector fact-checked identical claims spreading on Facebook. Read more in:
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