Instagram Alters Terms to Share Data With Facebook

Instagram on Monday morning announced changes to its Terms of Service (TOS) and Privacy Policy. Starting on January 16 Instagram will begin sharing private user data with Facebook.

In an official Instagram blog the company explained that the move will allow both company’s to more effectively fight spam and to detect system instability and reliability problems. Instagram also promises that its shift in TOS terms will allow for a better understanding of how its system is used socially, thus creating a better overall product.

In announcing changes to its TOS and Privacy Policy Instagram promises  that users will retain complete control over who sees their content and where that content is shared.

The “Information Sharing” section of the company’s Privacy Policy has changed to read:

We may share User Content and your information (including but not limited to, information from cookies, log files, device identifiers, location data, and usage data) with businesses that are legally part of the same group of companies that Instagram is part of, or that become part of that group (“Affiliates”). Affiliates may use this information to help provide, understand, and improve the Service (including by providing analytics) and Affiliates’ own services (including by providing you with better and more relevant experiences). But these Affiliates will honor the choices you make about who can see your photos.

The “Information Storage” section then reads:

Instagram, its Affiliates, or Service Providers may transfer information that we collect about you,including personal information across borders and from your country or jurisdiction to other countries or jurisdictions around the world.

With Facebook attempting to increase revenue through better targeted ad spots it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the company would want to collect as much user data from its various properties as possible.

What do you think about Instagram sharing user information with Facebook?

[Image via Mashable]