Facebook facing 'image' problem over third-party ads

Washington, July 30 (ANI): Facebook is facing a big image problem after it was revealed that third party advertisers were creating advertisements with users' profile photos without permission.

And thus users are feverishly forwarding instructions to prevent their images from being used for advertising.

"FACEBOOK has agreed to let third party advertisers use your posted pictures WITHOUT your permission. Click on SETTINGS up at the top where you see the Log out link. Select Privacy.

Then select NEWSFEEDS and WALL. Next select the tab that reads FACEBOOK ADS.

There is a drop down box, select NO ONE. Then SAVE your changes. (REPOST to let your friends know!)," Fox News quoted the warning, which is still being passed around from friend to friend throughout the site, as stating.

Recently, some third-party Facebook applications displayed ads with user photos without permission.

In response, officials at the Web site have said that say they've "dealt with" those rogue networks, that the company has not changed its policies and that it continues not to sell "user information or content" to advertisers.

The announcement comes soon after Canada's privacy commissioner called for better protections of Facebook users.

"The ads that spooked people were from rogue networks that have been dealt with (the ads were removed, some ad networks were banned from Facebook, and developers were warned)," said Facebook spokesman Barry Schnitt.

He added: "It is possible that your photo could have appeared next to an ad, if (and only if) you had taken an action to associate yourself with the product - like become a fan of their page. Then, the ad would say something like, '5 of your friends have become a fan of product x.'"

Schnitt had first addressed the controversy on Friday in a blog post titled, 'Debunking Rumors about Advertising and Photos'.

"If you see a Wall post or receive a message with the following language or something similar, it is this false rumor: FACEBOOK has agreed to let third party advertisers use your posted pictures WITHOUT your permission," wrote Schnitt.

According to Schnitt's post, Facebook's ads "always require" that users take an "express action" to link themselves with a product or service and that no data is shared with the third-party.

But still, some of Facebook users have complained that the site needs to work on its privacy settings. (ANI)