Facebook — a renowned social-networking site with 1.3 billion users globally, has recently updated its privacy policy, making it shorter, clearer and simpler to see. However, the update also makes way for a larger payments push along with the more targeted advertisements.
Lots of people complained about the Facebook’s long Policy Agreement and also about the difficulty of understanding it. After facing huge criticism, FB finally decided to update the policy document by cutting 70% of its length.
Facebook introduced the new Privacy Policy on Thursday. It’s an interactive guide that helps users to better understand how Facebook collects and uses their data. In addition, you can read frequently asked questions and learn how to control who sees your posts and info.
Facebook’s Chief Privacy Officer, Erin Egan stated in a blog post Thursday, “Facebook is suggesting updates to the terms to use, data and cookie policy to mirror additional features, while attempting to more clearly let you know how its services work.”
Facebook is upgrading its guidelines to describe the way it will get location information, with respect to the features someone uses. “For instance, later on, if you choose to share where you are, you may see menus from restaurants nearby or updates from buddies in the region,” Egan added.
“Facebook is also experimenting with the way people could make purchases. Additionally, to the buy button that Facebook is testing in certain regions to permit individuals to buy things without departing the platform, it’s also focusing on new methods to make transactions easier and secure,” Egan said.
In addition, Facebook is showing curiosity about understanding battery and signal strength of users’ devices “to make certain our applications work nicely.” Facebook may also request permission to make use of phone location “to offer optional features like check-ins or adding where you are to posts,” Egan stated.
Though the social network stated it would continuously enhance the way it serves advertisements in line with the applications and sites its customers use, choosing from targeted advertisements can get simpler.
Facebook already provides an opt-out for targeted advertisements, however the option presently doesn’t work across browsers and products. This elevated hackles in Germany, where consumer organizations have called the practice absurd.
“When you know us you shouldn’t see these kinds of advertisements, your choice instantly is applicable to each device you use to access Facebook, adding the ad preferences tool is going to be provided in additional countries, initiating with Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, and the U.K,” Egan added.
As part of the overhaul, Facebook introduced “Privacy Basics”, a tool that provides customers’ tips along with a how-to steer to take control of their profiles, in addition to a shorter and clearer privacy policy. The tool has information about untagging, unfriending, and blocking, and how to choose an audience for posts.
Facebook has planned to set the final updates on the 20th of November. Until then, users have to submit comments and suggestions.
