Facebook Principles, less dictatorial, open to user opinions | Startup Meme - Technology Startup and Latest Tech News

Our comments and trackback policy You Link We Follow, You Comment We Promote

Feb 27 2009

Facebook Principles, less dictatorial, open to user opinions

Sardar Mohkim Khan 

image thumb214 Facebook Principles, less dictatorial, open to user opinions

After facing quite a lot of agitation against its terms of service and failure to calm its users down, Facebook appears to be giving users a chance to give their input on the TOS. This would let users give their suggestions on the new terms an the changes that are to occur, making them feel more important players in making Facebook the leading social network. It has posted Facebook Principles and members can each voice their opinions in two groups. The principles sound better to read as they are less dictatorial:

1. Freedom to Share and Connect

People should have the freedom to share whatever information they want, in any medium and any format, and have the right to connect online with anyone – any person, organization or service – as long as they both consent to the connection.

2. Ownership and Control of Information

People should own their information. They should have the freedom to share it with anyone they want and take it with them anywhere they want, including removing it from the Facebook Service. People should have the freedom to decide with whom they will share their information, and to set privacy controls to protect those choices. Those controls, however, are not capable of limiting how those who have received information may use it, particularly outside the Facebook Service.

3. Free Flow of Information

People should have the freedom to access all of the information made available to them by others. People should also have practical tools that make it easy, quick, and efficient to share and access this information.

4. Fundamental Equality

Every Person – whether individual, advertiser, developer, organization, or other entity – should have representation and access to distribution and information within the Facebook Service, regardless of the Person’s primary activity. There should be a single set of principles, rights, and responsibilities that should apply to all People using the Facebook Service.

5. Social Value

People should have the freedom to build trust and reputation through their identity and connections, and should not have their presence on the Facebook Service removed for reasons other than those described in Facebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities.

6. Open Platforms and Standards

People should have programmatic interfaces for sharing and accessing the information available to them. The specifications for these interfaces should be published and made available and accessible to everyone.

7. Fundamental Service

People should be able to use Facebook for free to establish a presence, connect with others, and share information with them. Every Person should be able to use the Facebook Service regardless of his or her level of participation or contribution.

8. Common Welfare

The rights and responsibilities of Facebook and the People that use it should be described in a Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, which should not be inconsistent with these Principles.

9. Transparent Process

Facebook should publicly make available information about its purpose, plans, policies, and operations. Facebook should have a town hall process of notice and comment and a system of voting to encourage input and discourse on amendments to these Principles or to the Rights and Responsibilities.

10. One World

The Facebook Service should transcend geographic and national boundaries and be available to everyone in the world.

  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • E-mail this story to a friend!
blog comments powered by Disqus