• August 4, 2009

After rumors surfaced last week that Facebook was allowing ad networks to add any user photos to ads without their permission, the company tightened the rules for ads in Facebook applications that include user images or data.

Previously, ad networks could add profile photos of a users' friends to make ads more engaging as long as they weren't deceptive, according to the blog Inside Facebook. But now the social network is barring all use of profile photos unless specifically approved by the company.

Facebook Monday also added a new option to the Facebook Ads privacy settings page that lets users specify whether they want to allow approved ads in third-party applications to use their photos. Since Facebook doesn't currently allow outside apps or ad networks the right to use members' names or pictures in ads, the feature is moot for now until Facebook approves such ads in the future. --Mark Walsh