“I didn’t sign anything with Meta”, the persistent myth on Facebook

Once again, Facebook users are faced with a misleading viral message.

For several days, a message has been spreading at high speed on Facebook, falsely claiming that Meta (Facebook’s parent company) is starting to apply a new rule allowing the use of users’ photos.

“ I didn’t sign anything with Méta. The new Facebook/Meta rule starts tomorrow where they can use your photos. Remember, the deadline is today! This could be used in lawsuits against you. Everything you posted is published today – even posts that were deleted. It costs nothing, just copy and post, better than regretting later. »

The message, long and alarmist, mentions the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) law, sparking a wave of panic among users who share it in the hope of protecting their privacy and data personal.

However, these messages, reappearing sporadically since at least 2011, are devoid of any legal value. The conditions of use, accepted by users when registering, are the only texts governing the collection of data by Facebook.

Why is this rumor resurfacing?

The return of this false alert coincides with a recent announcement from Meta. The company informed its users in Europe of the introduction of a paid subscription system to eliminate advertisements from Facebook and Instagram.

This option, billed at 9.99 euros per month on computer and 12.99 euros per month on smartphone, may have raised concerns among users, fearing that the free use of these platforms would be compromised.

However, Meta reassured its users: Facebook and Instagram will remain accessible for free, with subscription simply an additional option for an ad-free experience.