The document summarizes key points from the terms of service of the social networking site Bebo. It notes that Bebo reserves broad rights to censor user content and user names based on vague criteria. It also points out that by using the site, users broadly agree to let Bebo share their personal information with third parties and use their content for marketing. The document raises privacy and surveillance concerns about Bebo's data collection and sharing practices.

1. Image Source: Question mark - Janneke Hikspoors A presentation by Daniel White

2. FACT: “ Any changes made to the Terms of Service, may be sent to you via email, as well as being posted on the Terms of Service page.” (Bebo, 2009) REALITY: By simply receiving the email, you automatically acknowledge, via binding agreement, to the changes. Unlike other legally binding agreements, you do not get time to peruse, before signing the dotted line…and if you don’t get an email you have to regularly check the TOS page… Image Source: Geo Bowl Thinking - Brit

3. FACT: “ We may refuse to grant a username that impersonates someone else, is or may be protected by trademark or proprietary rights law, or is vulgar, offensive, or otherwise inappropriate, as determined by us in our sole discretion.” (Bebo, 2009) REALITY: From the very start, Bebo can inflict moral censorship giving no definition of what is inappropriate, vulgar or offensive, that’s just while your trying to create a username! Question mark janneke hikspoors Image Source: Sign-up sheets – Paul Evans R&GB

4. FACT: “ We may, but shall have no obligation to, remove or limit access to Materials originating from any Bebo user that we determine in our sole discretion are unlawful, fraudulent, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene or otherwise objectionable.” (Bebo, 2009) REALITY: So you’ve got your username, which they have most likely censored, and now they can remove, but have no real obligation to, or censor your posts/pictures/music, because they deem it objectionable – again moral censorship coupled with a dash of freedom of expression.. Image Source: Australia Post Box - Natmeister

5. REALITY: Now, before you post, let’s read up on local, state, national and international laws…Were you also aware that the TOS will be governed by the laws of the State of California, so add that to your reading pile too... FACT: “ You agree to abide by all applicable local, state, national and international laws..” (Bebo, 2009) Image Source: August 6 th 2008 – Leave a Little Room in Your Heart – Stephen Poff

6. FACT: “ You hereby grant to Bebo and its agents and assigns a limited license to use, modify, publicly perform, publicly display, reproduce, and distribute such Materials solely in connection with the Bebo Service of the promotion thereof.” (Bebo, 2009) REALITY: Even though Bebo doesn’t own your posts, they can still do what they want with them, including its agents – without infringing on copyright. Unfortunately, this means you will also not receive payment for such use of posts. Image Source: Publish #01 – Mediamolecul

7. FACT: “ You agree to abide by all applicable local, state, national and international laws..” (Bebo, 2009) REALITY: Now, before you post, let’s read up on local, state, national and international laws…Were you also aware that the TOS will be governed by the laws of the State of California, so add that to your reading pile too.. Image Source: Police Officer breaking the law – Call to Adventure

8. FACT: “ Information about you as a Bebo member may be supplemented with additional information, including publicly-available information and information from other companies.” (Bebo, 2009) REALITY: So not only are they keeping information about you, in the United States, they will also supplement information made available from other companies… Can you say surveillance...? Image Source: Eye Oxford Road, Manchester, 2001 – Dr John 2005

9. CAREFUL Did you know that an increasing number of employers are conducting online searches on prospective candidates and exisiting employees? (Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, 2009)

10. FACT: “ Advertisements that appear on the Bebo Service are delivered to you by Bebo’s advertising affiliates, partners and service providers. Bebo may transfer information about you and your use of Bebo, such as your IP address, information stored via cookies, and other demographic information about you, to our advertising affiliates (such as Advertising.com), partners (including Yahoo! and its affiliates) and other third parties..” (Bebo, 2009) REALITY: So by simply signing up to connect and chat with friends, you’ll receive a variety of spam, based on basic information that you provide, almost insignificantly. Image Source: Spam with Cheese - Pinprick

11. FACT: “ "Masking" is a function of using programming techniques such that the displayed URL does not match the actual pages being viewed (e.g. user is on www.xyz.com, but the URL displayed is www.abc.com). In certain circumstances, Bebo may use Masking and, although it will appear that you are still on Bebo, you may be on a different site.” (Bebo, 2009) REALITY: You could think you are on Bebo.com when in actual fact you are on bigdaddy.com. Make sure to read bigdaddy.com privacy policy though – that’s if you even know its happening! (Bontrager, n.d.) Image Source: Our Masks – Daniel.y go

12. FACT: “ If you choose to use our referral service to tell a friend about Bebo, we will ask you for your friend's name and email address. We will automatically send your friend a one-time email inviting him or her to visit Bebo. Bebo stores and only uses this information for the sole purpose of sending this one-time email and tracking the success of our referral program. Your friend may submit a request that we remove this information from our database via the Contact Us; remove requests of this nature will be completed within 30 days. REALITY: So your not even a user, your friend sends you a request to join, and you have to contact Bebo to have your details removed….which will take place within 30 days.. Image Source: Time flies - Serhio

14. Image Source: Question mark - Janneke Hikspoors