Facebook backs down in photos row

Facebook has made a dramatic U-turn in a row over copyright, reversing a change to its terms and conditions. The social-networking website has gone back on the changes after critics said they would infringe copyright and compromise privacy. Facebook members who decide to delete their account can make sure all material they have posted, such as photos and comments on other members' profiles, is taken down. However, Facebook recently changed this so that anything someone posted on another members' profile would remain, even if the poster cancelled their account. Facebook: A timeline Initially Facebook rejected the criticisms, saying that the member still retained the copyright for the material. However, it has now switched back to the original policy. Facebook members logging in to the social network today have been greeted with the following message: "Over the past few days, we have received a lot of feedback about the new terms we posted two weeks ago. Join the Web User community on Facebook "Because of this response, we have decided to return to our previous Terms of Use while we resolve the issues that people have raised," the message continues. The U-turn comes after several groups were set up to protest against the changes and privacy group Privacy International criticised Facebook for the new terms and conditions, calling the people behind the site "hypocrites". What was reported to be the world's first Facebook divorce occurred on the social-networking site in February. Five Facebook highlights Since then, Sunderland footballer Michael Chopra's relationship is also reported to have ended on Facebook after his wife of seven months changed her status to single. www.facebook.com