Instagram has 'no plans' to sell user photos
2012-12-19 10:00
San Francisco - Instagram, the popular photo-sharing service
owned by Facebook, 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.
Instagram chief executive Kevin Systrom said in a blog post
that users had incorrectly interpreted Instagram's revised terms of service,
released on Monday, to mean that user photos would be sold to others without
compensation.
"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."
But 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.
Facebook bought the fast-growing photo service - now with
100 million users - earlier this year in a cash-and-stock deal valued initially
at $1bn. The transaction closed in September at $715m, reflecting a decline in
the value of Facebook shares.
