Photo-sharing service Instagram today announced changes to its Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, which now outline how the service will be sharing info with Facebook. Facebook-owned Instagram said that the new rules will not have any affect on the user's photos ownership or who can see them. However, they will help Instagram function more easily as part of Facebook by being able to share info between the two groups.

"This means we can do things like fight spam more effectively, detect system and reliability problems more quickly, and build better features for everyone by understanding how Instagram is used," Instagram wrote today on its blog.

According to the udated Privacy Policy, Instagram has the right to use userts information for, among other, "provide personalized content and information to you and others, which could include online ads or other forms of marketing."

In addition, Instagram may share User Content and information (including but not limited to, information from cookies, log files, device identifiers, location data, and usage data) with businesses "that are legally part of the same group of companies that Instagram is part of, or that become part of that group ("Affiliates")."

Instagram also added that the updated terms of service help protect users, and prevent spam and abuse.

The new Privacy Policy and Terms of Service will be effective on January 16, 2013.

Facebook announced earlier this year that it would acquire Instagram for $1 billion, and closed the deal in September. The latest changes in Instagram's Privacy Policy comes just a few days after Facebook also proposed new and controversial changes in own privacy rules.