A Facebook hoax regarding privacy and copyright is making the rounds again, and now the company has released a statement to put users at ease.
As hoaxes go, this one is relatively benign. It's not asking you for money, it's just has you post a status update saying you do not give Facebook permission to use your photos or postings.
Debunking website Snopes.com says this is completely false.
Citing techtalk, the Snopes posting says that Facebook members own their intellectual property, but according to Facebook's terms of service that you agree to when signing up, you are giving them permission to use what you post, so long as the posting is public.
Snopes also says any posting saying you do not agree to this does not negate the terms of service you agreed to when you opened your account.
This is Facebook's own debunking of the post:
While there may be water on Mars, don't believe everything you read on the internet today. Facebook is free and it always will be. And the thing about copying and pasting a legal notice is just a hoax. Stay safe out there Earthlings!
The last time this particular hoax made the rounds was in January.
Get breaking news on your phone, download the free 7NEWS app for iPhone/iPads, Android and Kindle. And follow us on Facebook, Twitterand Instagram.