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Don't fall for fake 'privacy' notice on Facebook

Updated

By Zach C. Cohen, USA TODAY

If you recently posted a "privacy notice" on Facebook claiming the government cannot disseminate your content, you've been fooled.

Contrary to what the notice says, Facebook's privacy policy was not affected when the company went public on May 18, according to the myth-buster extraordinaries at Snopes. Facebook and its users are still bound by the terms of service that every user signed in order to gain access to the site.

The only way to change your privacy settings is to adjust them yourself in the account settings on Facebook and practice caution when you post to the Web.

Concerns for privacy of information on Facebook are still prevalent. Facebook is currently allowing its users to vote on new privacy policy changes until Friday at noon ET.

Here's the text of the erroneous notice:

For those of you who do not understand the reasoning behind this posting, Facebook is now a publicly traded entity. Unless you state otherwise, anyone can infringe on your right to privacy once you post to this site. It is recommended that you and other members post a similar notice as this, or you may copy and paste this version. If you do not post such a statement once, then you are indirectly allowing public use of items such as your photos and the information contained in your status updates.

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

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