Facebook users and the Internet community reacted with hostility to Facebook's attempt to appropriate all data on the site for its own use, even after users delete their accounts.
But yesterday, Zuckerberg spoke with several prominent tech journalists and tech pundits about an instant change in company policy that invites users to contribute their own thoughts and ideas to craft a new set of service terms.
Zuckerberg also sought to clarify his company's earlier statement.
"We do not own user data," he said. "They own their data. We never intended to give that impression and we feel bad that we did."
Along with the mea culpa, Zuckerberg and his team have unveiled a new bill of rights for Facebook users. The new rights include language that runs contrary to the idea of a "perpetual worldwide license."
"People should own their information," the document reads. "They should have the freedom to share it with anyone they want and take it with them anywhere they want, including removing it from the Facebook Service. People should have the freedom to decide with whom they will share their information, and to set privacy controls to protect those choices. Those controls, however, are not capable of limiting how those who have received information may use it, particularly outside the Facebook Service."
The bill of rights, known as the proposed set of Facebook Principles was released in tandem with another document called the proposed Statement of Rights and Responsibilities.
Facebook has invited users to vote on these proposed terms, but one tech watchdog is dubious of Facebook's intentions. According to the proposal, if more than 7,000 users comment on a policy, it'll be put to a vote. If the proposal wins the vote, it'll become Facebook gospel, but only if more than 30 percent of all active users vote.
"Based on Facebook's current 175 million user base, that's nearly 53 million people, which makes it questionable whether the company will ever get sufficient voter turnout," wrote Larry Magid for CNET News.
