Ads or no ads
Facebook will send all of its users some new choices about their privacy. People will be asked to if they want ads based on data from partners. Facebook explained that ads on Facebook are more relevant when the company can use data from partners such as websites and apps that use business tools such as the Like button. People will be asked to review information about this type of advertising, and to choose whether or not they want to allow Facebook to use data from partners to show them ads.
Profile info will be easier to delete
People will also get a choice about the information given in their profile. If people have in the past chosen to share political, religious, and relationship information on their profile, they will be asked if they want to still share that information, and let Facebook use it. This information is optional for the profile; it will now be easier to delete.
More choice about face recognition technology
People will also get the turn on or off, the use of face recognition technology. The company said the technology is entirely optional for everyone using its service but that people in the EU and Canada will now be able to choose whether or not they want it. Facebook believes its face recognition features can help protect privacy and improve experiences, by detecting, for example, when others might be attempting to use people’s images, or by suggesting suggest friends people might to tag in photos or videos. Facebook said it has been offered products using face recognition in most of the world for over six years.
New terms of service and data policy
With the update of Facebook’s terms of service and data policy, people will be asked to give their approval. The update will better respond to questions about how services work. The company said there will be no new rights to collect, use or share and reaffirmed that it does not sell user information to advertisers or other partners.
Teens will get more protection and information
Finally, with GDPR stressing the importance of providing special protections for teens, Facebook has introduced new protection features for all young people, regardless of location. For example, advertising categories for teens will be more limited, and their default audience options for posts will not include “public.” Facebook will also keep face recognition off for anyone under 18 and limit who can see or search specific information teens have shared, like hometown or birthday. The company also plans to introduce a new global online resource centre specifically for teens later this year, with information about their most common privacy questions.
Under GDPR, people 13-15 years old will in some EU countries need to get permission from a parent or guardian to allow some features on Facebook, such as seeing ads based on data from partners, including religious and political views or showing “interested in” on their profile. These teens will see a less personalised version of Facebook with restricted sharing and less relevant ads until they get that permission. Where the law is more open, teens will be asked, just like adults, if they want to see ads based on data from partners and whether they want to include personal information in their profiles.
