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Here’s the news: Instagram changes its terms of use. Starting next January, user content (even the existing one) could be used by Instagram for commercial and marketing activities without the users being informed or – worse – receiving royalties on their use.

Wait, it’s ok. I mean, it’s legal.

A Service Provider has the right to change the terms of use without notice. But…

But when a phenomenon like Instagram is bought by Facebook for a billion dollars you enter a totally different scenario.

It ‘s obvious, however, that now the crystal will have a crack. Users are disappointed and feel betrayed. It will be difficult to regain the trust.

I’ve beek asked an opinion on what to do? Wether to opt out and delete all the uploaded content or protest or whatever.

Obviously I do not know and it’s not up to me to give recommendation. I just would like to highlight that in our legal system (italian) that would have been hardly possible, because new terms and conditions may apply to the future and not the past. It would be like saying that a telephone operator changes (legitimately) telephone rates with retroactive effect and then asks the arrears to the user.

Now, what can we do. Very little, I’m afraid, apart from the most drastic move of opting out and cancel our content. Unless …