Amid global outcry, Facebook will introduce new features allowing users to download and delete their data
Facebook, embroiled in a huge data scandal which has wiped off over US$100 billion in its market value, on Wednesday announced a series of privacy changes
Facebook on Wednesday unveiled new privacy settings aiming to give its users more control over how their data is shared, following an outcry over hijacking of personal information at the giant social network.
The updates include easier access to Facebook’s user settings and tools to easily search for, download and delete personal data stored by Facebook.
Facebook said a new privacy short cuts menu will allow users to quickly increase account security, manage who can see their information and activity on the site and control advertisements they see.
“We’ve heard loud and clear that privacy settings and other important tools are too hard to find and that we must do more to keep people informed,” chief privacy officer Erin Egan and deputy general counsel Ashlie Beringer said in a blog post. “We’re taking additional steps in the coming weeks to put people more in control of their privacy.”
The new features follow fierce criticism after it was revealed millions of Facebook users’ personal data was harvested by a British firm linked to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign – although Facebook said the changes have been “in the works for some time”.
We’ve heard loud and clear that privacy settings and other important tools are too hard to find
Earlier this month, whistle-blower Christopher Wylie revealed political consulting company Cambridge Analytica obtained profiles on 50 million Facebook users via an academic researcher’s personality prediction app.
