Facebook temporarily reverted back to the old terms of use Feb. 18, after the new terms, implemented unannounced on Feb. 4, sparked controversy and protest among users.Facebook is starting a new group called Facebook Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for users to voice their opinions about the future of Facebook’s new terms of use, according to a Facebook notification.Under Facebook’s new terms of use, uploaded content would not be deleted after a user cancels his or her account, giving Facebook the right to hold on to user’s information after the Facebook account is deleted and ties to Facebook are broken.Facebook officials said in a news release they did not claim ownership of the user’s information — their only intent was to prevent deletion of content if a user’s account was deleted, to “be more consistent with the behavior of the site.””Facebook’s intent was lawful, but their plans were unlawful,” said Craig Freeman, mass communication professor.Freeman said a Web site with an “if you sign-in, you agree” terms of use, such as Facebook, has to give notice of the change of terms and time for users to withdraw if they don’t agree.Facebook’s license only allows the site to use the information for purposes of the Facebook services, according to the news release.”For example, if you send a message to a friend on a Web mail service, that service will not delete that message from your friend’s inbox if you delete your account,” said Barry Schnitt, senior manager of communications for Facebook, in the release.Protests erupted over concern of Facebook using content for commercial purposes, but Facebook isn’t allowed to do this through its terms of use, Freeman said.”The difference is if someone sends me a picture and then wants it back, I can say, ‘You gave it to me,’ and Facebook can say, ‘It’s his, you gave it to him, and we hold the rights,'” Freeman said. “However, they can’t go to a business and sell the picture for advertising use.”As of press time, Facebook could not be reached to comment on the repeal of the new terms or the future of Facebook’s terms of service.—-Contact Steven Powell at [email protected]