Instagram Updates Its Terms Of Service After Massive Backlash

When Instagram released its soon-to-be implemented privacy policy and terms of service changes, there was a massive backlash from users. The policy changes included providing the company with the ability to license images on the site, among other things. As a result, Instagram has just announced that it will revert its advertisement policy back to the original used in 2010.

The updated Terms of Use and Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 19. Those who have been using the service up until the terms of use announcement can rest easy, then, because the terms they agreed to previously will be back in place. The company also has made it clear how it avoid these kinds of issues in the future by spelling out the steps it will take.

Instead of dropping a variety of changes into the Internet wild and letting them be interpreted by users, Instagram will make changes and develop its plans first, then reveal the terms and plan once it knows what it is going to do. In addition, the company again stressed that it has no intentions of selling user photos, something it stated earlier this week to ease concerns.

Instagram's co-found Kevin Systrom offered this statement. "Going forward, rather than obtain permission from you to introduce possible advertising products we have not yet developed, we are going to take the time to complete our plans, and then come back to our users and explain how we would like for our advertising business to work ... I want to be really clear: Instagram has no intention of selling your photos, and we never did. We don't own your photos – you do."

[via Instagram]