-By Philip Icuss
You have most likely seen something like this on your Facebook newsfeed recently:
PRIVACY NOTICE: Warning - any person and/or institution and/or Agent and/or Agency of any governmental structure including but not limited to the United States Federal Government also using or monitoring/using this website or any of its associated websites, you do NOT have my permission to utilize any of my profile information nor any of the content contained herein including, but not limited to my photos, and/or the comments made about my photos or any other "picture" art posted on my profile.
You are hereby notified that you are strictly prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing, disseminating, or taking any other action against me with regard to this profile and the contents herein. The foregoing prohibitions also apply to your employee, agent, student or any personnel under your direction or control.
The contents of this profile are private and legally privileged and confidential information, and the violation of my personal privacy is punishable by law. UCC 1-103 1-308 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WITHOUT PREJUDICE”
This is just one example of a privacy notice that Facebook users have been posting onto their profiles to protect their right to privacy. This privacy “notice” DOES NOT affect the privacy policy that was acknowledged by the Facebook user when signing up for the website.
Many Facebook users have come to believe that their profile is no longer protected and can be copied now that Facebook is a public company. In no way, however, does Facebook’s IPO change the privacy settings that are agreed upon with the initial sign up for the site.
ZDnet.com reporter, Violet Blue said this about the UCC code at the end of this “notice”:
“Careful readers will note the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) 1-103 1-308: The UCC deals with commercial law in the United States and has absolutely nothing to do with privacy.”
This “privacy notice” does not carry any power in the eyes of Facebook, your friends, or any other person that is able to see your profile. To keep your page as safe as possible, make sure to stay on top of updating your privacy settings and keep an eye on who is “liking” and commenting on your posts. If you are uncomfortable with someone’s activity on your page, simply un-friend them, but in all reality, the only sure shot way to have a 100% secure/private Facebook page is to not have one at all.