Groups File Complaint With FTC Over Facebook’s New Privacy Settings

trending topics

Our news

Yes, it’s true: We are joining GigaOM...

Groups File Complaint With FTC Over Facebook’s New Privacy Settings

Comments (View)
Text Size: A A
Email
Share

Several top privacy groups have filed a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission over Facebook’s recent changes to its privacy settings. The changes, which went into effect last week, mean that users can no longer restrict access to some basic information—like what pages they are fans of and who their friends are—and have less control over what information about them is shared via the Facebook API.

The groups’ complaint to the FTC says that the changes are “unfair and deceptive trade practices” and urges that the FTC investigate them. It is authored by the Electronic Privacy Information Center and signed by other organizations, including the American Library Association.

For its part, Facebook continues to maintain that the changes it introduced in fact give users more control over how their information is shared on the social network.

Here’s part of the company’s statement: “Facebook’s plan to provide users control over their privacy and how they share content is unprecedented in the Internet age. We have gone to great lengths to inform users about our platform changes, beginning with our July announcement; founder Mark Zuckerberg’s open letter to our 350 million users; our robust press and analyst outreach; the notice-and-comment framework for our new privacy policy; and simple customization tools for users.”

The company goes on to say that it already consulted with “many regulators, including the FTC” before putting the changes into effect.

That may be the case, but the FTC complaint will only feed the perception that the social network does not put a priority on its user’s privacy. Other changes Facebook has introduced, including its controversial Beacon advertising program, have also fueled big outcries.

EPIC Face Book Complaint