Countless Facebook users have posted the status update shown below in attempt to protect their private information on Facebook:

“Today, 12/01/2014 in response to the Facebook guidelines and under articles L.111, 112 and 113 of the code of intellectual property, I declare that my rights are attached to all my personal songs, lyrics, literary excerpts, data, drawings, paintings, photos, texts etc… published on my profile. For commercial use of the foregoing my written consent is required at all times……”

This is not the first time that users have fallen for this hoax. As with many of the Facebook scams that we warn against, hoaxes and other misinformation seem to be regurgitated and reborn as well.

You can’t protect your information by simply posting a status update. The use of your data and personal information is subject to Facebook’s governing documents. You can read more about these documents and proposed changes by vising the Site Governance Facebook page.

The only way to protect your information on Facebook is to take responsibility for it yourself. Always be aware that anything you post online can come back to haunt you, and be sure to educate yourself on the privacy and security controls offered by Facebook.

For a complete walk-through on the major Facebook privacy and security features, then check out this post:

How to Lock Down Your Facebook Account For Maximum Privacy and Security

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