LONDON: Facebook has chopped down its privacy policy and put it into plain English in an effort to empower users to take control of their information.
The previous 9,000 word policy written in legalese and longer than the U.S. Constitution, is now less than one-third of the size. Facebook rolled out its revamped policy through a colorful interactive the company hopes users will read.
Protecting people’s information and providing meaningful privacy controls are at the core of everything we do, Erin Egan Facebook’s chief privacy officer wrote in a blog post.
While the policy may have been updated, it’s worth noting that users’ Facebook settings won’t be changing.
The question is, What kinds of information do we collect? How is information shared? How can I manage or delete information about me.
Advertisements were previously served based on the location listed in a user’s profile, however Facebook recently began letting advertisers target users based on their actual location.
While the old policy notes this information can be learned form smartphone GPS, the new policy adds that Bluetooth and WiFi can also give away a user’s location.
Battery and signal strength of your phone may seem like mundane pieces of information to collect, but Facebook said they help ensure their apps are functioning well on user’s devices.
When it comes to sharing with advertisers, Facebook said it helps companies serve “relevant ads without telling them who you are.
Don’t shop until your drop just do it on Facebook. The company is testing a buy button in certain markets that would allow users to make secure transactions without leaving Facebook.
A simple privacy portal helps answer user’s questions about what they see, who can see their profile and how people interact with them.
Facebook previously released a privacy check-up tool in September, reminding users of who can see their status updates, apps and profile information.
