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Instagram debuts new privacy policy, set to share user data with Facebook beginning January 16th

Instagram debuts new privacy policy, set to share user data with Facebook beginning January 16th

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As Instagram prepares to scale under its new ownership by Facebook, the company has provided a preview of changes to its privacy policy and terms of service that will take effect on January 16th, 2013. In-line with Facebook's already-announced data sharing policies -- the company's most recent policy changes enabled it to share data between Instagram and other Facebook-owned entities -- and both Instagram and Facebook say that the new data-sharing policy will help improve their respective services (including, of course, advertising). With the change, Instagram will be able to "share user content and your information," including cookies, location data, device identifiers, and other information with Facebook-owned companies. But Instagram says that "nothing has changed about your photos' ownership or who can see them," and that the updated terms will "help protect you, and prevent spam and abuse as we grow."