Twitter’s new terms of service (ToS) for users outside of the US that will come into effect from this October has many on the social media platform upset. The new terms of service that apparently allow other companies to republish content on its platform without any compensation have sparked widespread online criticism.
The clause that has received flak allows the micro-blogging website to make content that is posted on Twitter "available to other companies, organisations or individuals" who can then re-publish it.
"You agree that this license includes the right for Twitter to provide, promote, and improve the Services and to make Content submitted to or through the Services available to other companies, organizations or individuals for the syndication, broadcast, distribution, promotion or publication of such Content on other media and services, subject to our terms and conditions for such Content use," the terms read under "Your Rights" section.
The clause further reads: "Such additional uses by Twitter, or other companies, organizations or individuals, may be made with no compensation paid to you with respect to the Content that you submit, post, transmit or otherwise make available through the Services."
Did ya'll read twitter new terms of service agreement? They can sublicense anything we post; including our photos, threads, ideas etc.
— Nande N (@nandnz) September 2, 2017
...a lot of creatives (everyone) will have to reconsider how they use twitter. these terms of service are unbelievable.
— 'Miss Kay' (@Keratilwe_) September 2, 2017
The clause was first highlighted by a Twitter user Richard de Nooy who called it “grotesque”. Several people then retweeted it and slammed the clause, the Independent daily reported.
Your terms of service agreement is un-fucking-believable, @Twitter. This is grotesque. Especially for users posting original content. pic.twitter.com/yEE8xly0kJ
— Richard de Nooy (@RicharddeNooy) September 2, 2017
Twitter is "showing a pop-up to all affected users that warns them to take a look at the new terms and asks them to agree with them, or delete their account if they don’t," the report added.
However, Tech Crunch reports that this not new. “We should also point out news organizations and other companies and individuals can already use content found on the site, as that content is public and is already considered fair use,” Sarah Buhr, writes for Tech Crunch. A Twitter user points out that this section is not new and is standard for a social network.
This section is not new or changed in any way, and is standard for a social network which allows content to be embedded or re-used elsewhere https://t.co/OsLdXzLejC
— Alex Hern (@alexhern) September 2, 2017
In a series of Tweets Alex Hern, a technology features writer for the Guardian goes on to point out some of the changes made to the language of the new Terms of Service.
He, however, concludes that the changes made were mainly to remove clutter and overall the changes have been “thoughtful”.
Overall, these seem like thoughtful changes. They largely seem to remove aspects of the ToS which have no reason to be there.
— Alex Hern (@alexhern) September 2, 2017
(With IANS inputs)