Facebook To Comply with Canadian Privacy Law

August 27th, 2009 • Identity, Legal Issues, Social Networks

Facebook will enhance its social-networking site’s privacy features over the next 12 months as a result of a set of recommendations from the Canadian government.

Facebook will increase the information it provides to its users about its privacy features, as well as make technical changes to tighten privacy controls, the company said Thursday.

The changes come as a direct result of a review of Facebook’s privacy policies and controls conducted by The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada . Facebook cooperated with the Canadian agency’s study, which lasted more than a year, reports Reuters. Specifically, Facebook will update its privacy policy so that it more clearly explains its privacy practices. Facebook will also reach out to users, prompting them to review their privacy settings. Canada’s privacy commissioner had previously threatened to take Facebook to court if the company did not resolve “serious gaps” in the way it handles users’ personal information and retains data from deactivated accounts.

Facebook announced plans to give users more control over how their information is shared with third party developers, as well as offering a clearer option for users to deactivate or delete their accounts.

“Giving people more control over what information they share and with whom is at the heart of how we think about privacy at Facebook,” the company wrote in its blog. “As people better understand how information is shared and gain more control over it, they become more comfortable and confident in sharing.”

Facebook has about 12 million Canadian users. It has a total of more than 250 million active users worldwide.

Tags: facebook, reuters, The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

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