Yes! That privacy message on Facebook is a hoax | HT Tech

Yes! That privacy message on Facebook is a hoax

This is not the first time the ‘Facebook Privacy Notice scam’ has showed its ugly head on the social network although the message might sound pretty convincing as it claims to protect a user’s content by warning him or her against a non-existent Facebook policy to make private posts public.

By: HT CORRESPONDENT
| Updated on: Jun 28 2016, 21:27 IST
image caption
This is not the first time the ‘Facebook Privacy Notice scam’ has showed its ugly head on the social network although the message might sound pretty convincing as it claims to protect a user’s content by warning him or her against a non-existent Facebook policy to make private posts public. (Reuters)
image caption
This is not the first time the ‘Facebook Privacy Notice scam’ has showed its ugly head on the social network although the message might sound pretty convincing as it claims to protect a user’s content by warning him or her against a non-existent Facebook policy to make private posts public. (Reuters)

If you are seeing a weird privacy message on your friends' timelines, there is no need to panic -- and yes it is a hoax.

This is not the first time the 'Facebook Privacy Notice scam' has showed its ugly head on the social network, although the message might sound pretty convincing as it claims to protect a user's content by warning him or her against a non-existent Facebook policy to make private posts public.

We understand that can be of concern for so many of us (might even change lives for a few people who are always on social media). The hoax appeared in 2012, 2014, 2015 and now it is being shared on the social media site again, with no changes to the format at all.

The new message reads like this: "I do not give Facebook or any entities associated with Facebook permission to use my pictures, information, or posts, both past and future. By this statement, I give notice to Facebook it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, or take any other action against me based on this profile and/or its contents. The content of this profile is private and confidential information. The violation of privacy can be punished by law (UCC 1-308- 1 1 308-103 and the Rome Statute).

NOTE: Facebook is now a public entity. All members must post a note like this. If you prefer, you can copy and paste this version. If you do not publish a statement at least once it will be tactically allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in the profile status updates. DO NOT SHARE. copy and paste."

The other variety of the same doing rounds reads something like -- "Channel 13 News was just talking about this change in Facebook's privacy policy," and then adds the privacy message to it to make it more believable.

So if you are reading any of these two messages, relax, it definitely a hoax.

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First Published Date: 28 Jun, 18:00 IST
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