Switched has a new home! Huffpost Tech.

Click here to visit the new home of Switched!

Hot on HuffPost Tech:

See More Stories
AOL Tech

Facebook to Simplify Privacy Options, Pats Itself on the Back

by Amar Toor on May 19, 2010 at 01:15 PM

facebook on/off switchIf your Web site's privacy policy is longer than the entire U.S. Constitution, it's probably a sign that you need to streamline things just a bit. Fortunately for Facebook users, Mark Zuckerberg seems to have finally gotten the hint. After facing a deluge of consumer complaints and confusion surrounding its newly convoluted approach to privacy, Facebook has apparently decided to unveil a set of still newer, "simplistic" privacy choices sometime over the next few weeks.

In a recent radio interview, Facebook's head of public policy Tim Sparapani confirmed his company's decision to streamline its user options, confirming that the site is "going to be providing options for users who want simplistic bands of privacy that they can choose from." As Wired points out, it's still unclear what those options will look like, or the extent to which they'll be simplified. It appears, however, that the company has decided to back off from its policy of sharing user information by default, without allowing individuals to "opt-in" to the program.

Although Sparapani acknowledged the legitimacy of some consumer complaints, he also defended the network during his appearance on the Kojo Nnamdi public radio program, saying, "We have built a privacy setting for every new type of sharing [users] are allowed to have. What that means is that in fact we have come up with an extraordinary number of privacy settings." Sparapani went on to say that the site "should be compared to almost any other company out there where there are no privacy settings at all. So Facebook should be getting credit here for giving tools in the first place." He finished up by lauding his company's decision to plaster "Like" buttons across the Web, calling it "an extraordinary gift to the public."

We're relieved that Facebook has apparently decided to change its ways, but please, Tim Sparapani, spare us the "holier-than-thou" spiel. Facebook is not a typical corporation. When we walk into Whole Foods, we're there to buy overpriced arugula -- not to share personal information. We certainly would never thank our cashier for involuntarily sharing our purchases with third-party marketers, as you apparently expect us to do with Facebook. Most other companies are in the business of goods or services. Facebook manages personal information. There's a major difference between the two. [From: Wired]

Tags: facebook, InstantPersonalization, MarkZuckerberg, privacy, PrivacyIssues, PrivacyPolicy, SocialNetworking, top, users, web

Comments

1

HuffPost AOL Social News Most Popular