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| Facebook's founder, Mark Zuckerberg, has said the firm can do better on privacy |
The Irish
data protection commissioner has recommended widespread changes to improve
privacy on Facebook.
They
include making its terms and conditions clearer and offering users greater
control over how their data is used on the site.
The
findings are particularly significant because Facebook Ireland was given
responsibility for all non-US and Canadian data in September 2010.
Facebook
has six months to implement the changes.
Commissioner
Billy Hawkes will conduct a formal review of its progress in July.
Commenting
on the report, he said: "This was a challenging engagement both for my
office and for Facebook Ireland. The audit has found a positive approach and
commitment on the part of FB-I [Facebook Ireland] to respecting the privacy
rights of its users."
Transparency
Facebook
welcomed the review, saying: "We are pleased that the report demonstrates
how Facebook adheres to European data protection principles and complies with
Irish law.
"Of
course, the report highlights some areas where we can improve and reach best
practice."
The report
suggested widespread changes, including:
- a mechanism for users to make an informed choice for how their information is used and shared on the site, including in relation to third party apps
- an update to its data use policy/privacy policy to take account of recommendations as to where the information provided to users could be further improved
- transparency and control for users via the provision of all personal data held to them on request and as part of their everyday interaction with the site
- the deletion of information held on users and non-users via what are known as social plug-ins, and more generally the deletion of data held from user interactions with the site much sooner than presently
- increased transparency and controls for the use of personal data for advertising purposes
- an additional form of notification for users in relation to facial recognition/"tag suggest" that, it is considered, will ensure Facebook Ireland is meeting best practice in this area from an Irish law perspective
- an enhanced ability for users to control tagging and posting on other user profiles
- an enhanced ability for users to control their addition to groups by friends
- The review is the latest in a series of privacy investigations. Last month the US Federal Trade Commission said the social network giant had engaged in "unfair and deceptive" practices over changes made to its privacy settings in 2009.
In a blog
post at the time, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said the company had made a
"bunch of mistakes".
But he
added that this had often overshadowed the good work that the social networking
site, which has more than 800 million users, had done.
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