Facebook hit with privacy suit

A group of former Facebook users are suing the company for misusing user photos and profile information.

In a suit filed in Orange County, California, three adults and two minors charged that the company misappropriated posted information and violated Calfornia privacy laws. The plaintiffs have asked that the suit be brought to trial before a jury.

Among the charges being made are that the company reposted copyrighted images without approval from users and that Facebook allowed for personal information to be posted and shared by minors without parental approval.

"Facebook's interface and website architecture causes users to believe and understand that personal information and photos uploaded to Facebook are private," reads the filing.

"Users may be unaware that data they sybmit, or that data others submit about them may be extracted and then shared, stored, licensed or downloaded by other persons or third parties they have not expressly authorized."

Facebook has said that the case is without merit and the company will fight the charges.

The California suit is the latest legal headache for Facebook, which has had to deal with privacy issues and complaints before. Earlier this year the company angered users when it implemented new terms and conditions.

In 2007 the company again caused user uproar stemming from privacy concerns over its ill-fated Beacon advertising platform.