‘It is not our intention to sell your photos’: Instagram clarifies new privacy policy after public backlash

Instagram clarifies privacy changes, says no plans to sell photos

SAN FRANCISCO — Instagram, the popular photo-sharing service owned by Facebook Inc, said on Tuesday it has “no plans” to incorporate user photos into ads in response to a growing public outcry over new privacy policies unveiled this week.

“This is not true and it is our mistake that this language is confusing,” Systrom said. “To be clear: it is not our intention to sell your photos. We are working on updated language in the terms to make sure this is clear.”

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That said, Instagram maintains that it was created to become a business and would like to experiment with various forms of advertisements to make money.

Systrom said Instagram may display users’ profile pictures and information about who they follow as part of an ad – a social marketing technique similar to what Facebook uses in its “sponsored stories” ad product.

He added that Instagram will not incorporate users’ uploaded photos as ads because the service wants “to avoid things like advertising banners.”

Instagram, which is free to use, triggered an uproar this week when it revised its terms of service in order to begin carrying advertising.

The new policy will take effect Jan. 16.

Facebook bought the fast-growing photo service – now with 100 million users – earlier this year in a cash-and-stock deal valued initially at US$1-billion. The transaction closed in September at US$715-million, reflecting a decline in the value of Facebook shares.