Do we need a Facebook Bill of Rights?

My Finnish friend Risto Linturi an author and furturist has formed a fast-growing Facebook group called Constitutional Facebook, which argues that everyone's favorite social network maintains all the responsibilities but guarantees none of the rights. He explainsin a group letter:

"Facebook seems basically a good thing for us. I think the staff is doing their best. I also feel that we as users are investing a lot. We as users need some basic guarantees and rights, which Facebook should honor. Transparency is one of them, privacy, trust, copyright and security are others. Current agreement does not cover these. Facebook requires all rights and does not accept any responsibilities."

Like Risto, I see Facebook as a good guy group whose founding team has performed in a trustworthy and admirable way. I have little dout, that the agreement most of us signed without reading was drafted by lawyers who focused on protecting their client, which is what they are supposed to do.

But, Facebook is a Global force and the company would be wise to follow Risto's prodding and draft a user's bill of rights, soonner rather than later.

Comments

[Geoff Livingston]

This would be a fascinating development... And a true play to the community.