Instagram, the popular photo-sharing service owned by Facebook Inc, said on Tuesday (December 18) it has “no plans” to incorporate user photos into ads in response to a growing public outcry over new privacy policies unveiled this week.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He added that Instagram will not incorporate users’ uploaded photos as ads because the service wants “to avoid things like advertising banners.”<\/p>\n
Instagram, which is free to use, triggered an uproar this week when it revised its terms of service in order to begin carrying advertising.<\/p>\n
Facebook bought the fast-growing photo service – now with 100 million users – earlier this year in a cash-and-stock deal valued initially at $1 billion. The transaction closed in September at $715 million, reflecting a decline in the value of Facebook shares.<\/p>\n
Facebook, Instagram cutting Twitter ties<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Facebook tackled over privacy policy changes<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n