Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Facelift for Facebook

You have one new notification:

Facebook has launched new privacy settings in order to comply with Canadian privacy laws. You now have more ways to control who sees your profile, who comments on your status, and who pokes you - virtually, of course.

"We found that, although Facebook provides information about privacy issues, it is often confusing or incomplete," said Assistant Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham at a news conference last year.

The social-networking site - fueled by 350 million users worldwide - failed to comply with the Personal Information and Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) in 2009.

Denham says that the main concern however, is the lack of transparency on the site, as well as applications that could allow users to lose control over personal information.
Facebook has agreed to make the following changes:
  • Prevent games, quizzes and other applications from accessing personal information without consent
  • Make it clear to users that only deleting an account will erase personal information entirely
  • Remind users to obtain non-user consent before sharing non-users name or e-mail
  • Clarify in its privacy policy that it will retain a user's profile after a user's death in order for friends to post tributes
"These changes mean that the privacy of 200 million Facebook users in Canada and around the world will be far better protected," says Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart. "We're very pleased Facebook has been responsive to our recommendations."

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner will be monitoring Facebook's implementations over the next year.

Related Links:
CBC News: Facebook to make privacy changes
Toronto Star: Standing on guard for privacy before Facebook
The Globe and Mail: How to manage Facebook settings

Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg talks about Facebook's beginnings



Summary: Facebook implements new privacy settings in order to comply with Canadian privacy laws

-Kimb3rly