Facebook Referendum

Starting today at 12:00pm EST, Facebook is asking its users to vote upon how the site will be governed by letting users vote on the Terms of Service document.

As stated on Facebook's Site Governance polls:

On February 26, Facebook announced plans to make site governance more transparent and democratic. Since that time, users and experts around the world have been providing comments on the new documents Facebook proposed to govern the site and replace the existing Terms of Service – the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities and Facebook Principles. Facebook has read the comments on these documents and has revised the documents based on this feedback. Now, please vote to let Facebook know which documents you think should govern the site.

This referendum is called after having users raising concern to the controversial "Section 2" of Facebook's Terms of Service whereby people were concerned about having their materials "licensed" to Facebook without limits and that the license is perpetual. Facebook states that the new revision clarifies that you only grant them the "license" as long as you post the material on Facebook. However, if you delete the material, the license is revoked. In addition, you can limit Facebook how they are able to utilize your material. The "license" is reflected by the Privacy Settings that users impose on the material. So if you only allowed the photos or materials be shown to friends. Facebook is prohibited from the draft "license" to display the materials to anyone else to your friends.

Facebook did answer to concerns by artists who may use Facebook. In the new draft, Facebook said that:

A number of users raised concerns similar to the following comment: “I am an artist. This section makes me nervous. Does this mean that Facebook plans to sell the artwork, photos or music that I post?” Facebook has never sold its users’ creative works, and has no intention of doing so in the future. But you should be aware that Facebook does try to derive revenue from its website – such as through advertising – and your content appears on our website. That said, this section limits our use of your content in two important ways that protect you. First, the rights you give Facebook are “subject to your Privacy Settings.” This means, for example, that if you set your privacy settings so that only your friends can see a photo, we cannot show that photo to anyone but your friends. Similarly, if you opt out of Social Ads in your Privacy Settings, we will respect your decision. Second, the license you give us ends when you delete your copyrighted content. This means that the minute you delete it, we will no longer use your content except in the ways we articulate in section 2.

What should be noted in the new drafted version of the new "Statement of Rights and Responsibilities" document is that users:

• will not develop or operate a third party application containing, or advertise or otherwise market alcohol-related or other mature content without appropriate age-based restrictions.
• will not use Facebook if [they] are a convicted sex offender.
• will not share [their] password, let anyone else access [their] account, or do anything else that might jeopardize the security of [their] account. 

Something that should take note of is the convicted sex offender. It's a great idea and it will be interesting how Facebook will verify if the person is a sexual offender or not. However, it's good to know that it is a violation of the Terms of Service for Facebook. I think many more people should take note of the latter point about sharing password. Many people give their boyfriend or girlfriends their password and it should be noted that it is a violation to the Terms of Service (I believe is also a violation on the old document as well).

One more thing that people should take note is that people who wish to vote at the referendum polls, they must meet the following requirements in order to register their vote:

This vote will be binding if 30% or more of all active users as of February 26, 2009, the day that the vote was announced, vote. An active user is one who has logged in to Facebook at least once in the last 30 days. Users who signed up for Facebook after February 26, 2009 are not eligible to vote. They are eligible to vote on any future change to Facebook’s site governance documents that is put to a vote.

If the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities is approved, all future changes will go through a process of notice and comment. As specified in the Statement, Facebook will hold a vote on any proposed change if at least 7,000 people submit comments. The vote will be advisory unless at least 30% of all active users participate. If turnout is 30% or more, the vote will be binding.

If you meet the requirements, that's great, go on and vote and get your voice heard!

Remember to read the FULL document before casting your vote because your vote will most likely affect every Facebook user!

External Links

• Facebook Site Governance Vote
• Facebook Principles
• Statement of Rights and Responsibilities
• Response to Comments on Statement of Rights and Responsibilities

Sources

• Facebook Site Governance Vote on Facebook Rules
• Statement of Rights and Responsibilities
• Response to Comments on Statement of Rights and Responsibilities