Facebook strips 'privacy' from data use policy

Social networking giant Facebook may be triggering concerns from privacy groups after it revised its privacy policies in an attempt to supposedly make its methods more transparent.

 

CNN Money reported the draft of the changes included semantic tweaks, like taking the word "privacy" out of Facebook's "privacy policy," and renaming it "data use policy."

 

"That sounds scary, but Facebook says the changes to its policy documents don't reflect any actual changes in how the site operates. Instead, what it calls 'clarifications' are aimed at more clearly describing to users what Facebook does.

That clarity is freaking some members out. Many responded on Facebook's comment page with a wholesale rejection of the new terms," CNN Money reported.

 

It noted that on the German-language version of the proposal, more than 32,000 Facebook members issued the same one-sentence protest: "Ich lehne die Änderungen ab," roughly translated as "I reject the changes."

 

But for now, most commenters appeared particularly disturbed about a line describing what data applications can grab.

 

While the current policy says that when one uses an application, the user's content and information is shared with the application, the proposed revision amends that line to: "When you or others who can see your content and information use an application, your content and information is shared with the application."

 

"The idea that apps your friends install can access your information disturbed many of Facebook's commenters. As one put it: 'Strongly disagree -- why should I be dragged into apps my friends are involved with?'" CNN Money said.

 

Facebook has not set a date for when its revised policy will take effect, saying it needs to sort through users' comments and concerns before finalizing the wording.

 

Yet, Facebook spokesman Andrew Noyes told CNNMoney pointed out Facebook's current terms already allow apps to tap into all of the information that the app's users have access to.

 

He added the policy revision is intended to make that reality clearer to Facebook's users.

 

Noyes said those who want keep apps from sucking in their data can set granular controls on their "privacy settings" page on Facebook.

 

CNN Money also said Facebook emphasized the rule's benign intent.

 

It cited an app called Gogobot that uses Facebook check-in data that your friends have shared with you to map out where those you know have been.

 

The feature is intended to help you find savvy locals to tap for travel advice.

 

Still, CNN Money said the changes have some users edgy about just how widely their personal information can be shared, and about Facebook's incentives to push those boundaries.

 

"This is a significant acknowledgement that Facebook is focused on data collection, data storage and data sales, because that's where they make their money. They're more accurately describing what they do," says Sarah Downey, a privacy analyst at security software company Abine.

 

New features

 

Some of Facebook's other changes to the policy, which was last updated almost a year ago, accommodate its new features.

 

For example, the word "profile" is now often replaced with "Timeline," Facebook's latest update to its profile pages.

 

Also, the new statement reflects the features Facebook has shut down.

 

It said language referring to Facebook Deals has been deleted, since Facebook scratched the deal program in August.

 

Another new provision makes it clear that Facebook can, in its sole discretion, disable some of its features for users in certain geographical areas.

 

The change comes as Facebook and its social-networking peers grapple with heavy legal restrictions on their services in some countries. — TJD, GMA News