'Channel 13 News' Facebook Privacy Hoax Spreading Again

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A popular Facebook hoax is making the rounds again.

Viewers have contacted CBS13 about the Channel 13 News hoax, worried that their Facebook profiles are about to become public. The person behind hoax claims to have seen a story about the changes on "Channel 13 News."

Here's the full text of a version of the post that's floating around

Everything you've ever posted becomes public from tomorrow. Even messages that have been deleted or the photos not allowed. It costs nothing for a simple copy and paste, better safe than sorry. Channel 13 News talked about the change in Facebook's privacy policy. I do not give Facebook or any entities associated with Facebook permission to use my pictures, information, messages or posts, both past and future.

With this statement, I give notice to Facebook it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, or take any other action against me based on this profile and/or its contents. The content of this profile is private and confidential information. The violation of privacy can be punished by law (UCC 1-308- 1 1 308-103 and the Rome Statute).

NOTE: Facebook is now a public entity. All members must post a note like this. If you prefer, you can copy and paste this version. If you do not publish a statement at least once it will be tactically allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in the profile status updates. DO NOT SHARE. Copy and paste to be on the safe side.

As "Channel 13 News" in the Sacramento market, we can safely say that's not true. There have been no reports of a change in Facebook's privacy policy this week, or in recent weeks.

But it's important to take a closer look at what's going on here to guard against future hoaxes, so we're going to break this down piece by piece so you know what to look out for next time.

Everything you've ever posted becomes public from tomorrow. Even messages that have been deleted or the photos not allowed. It costs nothing for a simple copy and paste, better safe than sorry.

If you see a message that starts with something designed to frighten you into action, that should be your first tip off that it might not be genuine. Fear is a powerful motivator.

Channel 13 News talked about the change in Facebook's privacy policy.

This statement gives you the illusion of an official source that can be trusted. All across the country in many different markets there's a "channel 13" and chances are it has news on it. With no call letters or network attached to it, that should also raise concerns this might be a load of bunk.

I do not give Facebook or any entities associated with Facebook permission to use my pictures, information, messages or posts, both past and future.

With this statement, I give notice to Facebook it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, or take any other action against me based on this profile and/or its contents.

Legal experts and common sense experts have agreed that a Facebook post from a user declaring a change in how they feel the terms of service should be handled doesn't mean squat. You will be laughed out of court if this is your only defense. Additionally, Facebook "copies" and "distributes" your profile and its contents every day. That's the way computers and the Internet work. They have to get from your computer to Facebook's servers somehow.

The violation of privacy can be punished by law (UCC 1-308- 1 1 308-103 and the Rome Statute).

This is one of my personal favorite things: The ol' "Throw legal sounding things at the wall until they stick" approach. The Uniform Commercial Code isn't a law as much as it's a collection of suggested laws for states to take up that vary by how they're enacted and enforced. That means the well-intentioned statement about the reservation of rights won't do you any good.

But by far, the best part of this statement is the Rome Statute. It sounds so formal and majestic that it most be something many countries agreed to after a lengthy discussion for the greater good. And that's what happened, except it has nothing to do with Facebook or privacy. The Rome Statute instead covers genocide and war crimes. If you were making up a hoax and wanted to make someone look foolish, what better way to do it than have them put the rights to their photos right next to genocide in order of importance.

NOTE: Facebook is now a public entity. All members must post a note like this. If you prefer, you can copy and paste this version. If you do not publish a statement at least once it will be tactically allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in the profile status updates. DO NOT SHARE. Copy and paste to be on the safe side.

To close, this is just a variation on how chain letters and chain emails have worked for years—if you do not share me, something awful will happen to you.

But I can safely say if you share this article with your friends and loved ones on Facebook, something good will happen: Fewer people will be taken in by this hoax.