Terms and Conditions May Apply

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Terms and Conditions May Apply
Theatrical release poster
Directed byCullen Hoback
Produced by
  • Cullen Hoback
  • Nitin Khanna
  • John Ramos
Narrated byCullen Hoback
CinematographyBen Wolf
Edited byCullen Hoback
Music byJohn Askew
Distributed byVariance Films, Hyrax Films
Release date
  • 2013 (2013)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Terms and Conditions May Apply is a 2013 documentary film that addresses how corporations and the government utilize the information that users provide when agreeing to browse a website, install an application, or purchase goods online. In the film, director/narrator Cullen Hoback discusses the language employed in user-service agreements and how online service providers collect and use users' and customers' information.

The film criticizes companies such as Facebook, Google, and LinkedIn for having poorly worded and misguiding privacy policies/terms of service, which use user-unfriendly language in long documents and allows the companies to collect user information and legally provide it to third-parties.[1] The film aims to warn people about the risks of clicking "I Agree" after scrolling through pages of uninviting text.

Mark Zuckerberg appears in the film.[2][3]

Interviewees[edit]

In alphabetical order:

Reception[edit]

The film received a very mixed review at RogerEbert.com, stating among other things; "Hoback's lack of focus is compounded by his tendency to rely on speakers who talk in generalizations."[4]The Los Angeles Times, on the other hand, explained that "In the brave new world of big data, humor has no value — and privacy is on the extinction watch list."[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Terms and Conditions May Apply: Official Trailer". Youtube.com. Hyrax Films.
  2. ^ Metz, Nina (July 18, 2013). "Chicago Closeup: Terms and Conditions May Apply". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-25.
  3. ^ "Movies: 'Terms and Conditions May Apply' Details Digital-Age Loss of Privacy". The New York Times. July 12, 2013. Retrieved 2014-05-25. (paid)
  4. ^ Abrams, Simon. "Terms and Conditions May Apply movie review (2013) | Roger Ebert". rogerebert.com/. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
  5. ^ Linden, Sheri (2013-07-17). "Review: 'Terms and Conditions May Apply' explores loss of privacy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-07-01.

External links[edit]