Facebook Offers Privacy Checkup to All 1.28 Billion Users

SAN FRANCISCO — Do you know who can see what you are posting on Facebook, including your photos, birthday and personal cellphone number?

Chances are that you don’t.

And Facebook is worried that you will start sharing less — or maybe even move to more anonymous services — unless it helps better manage your private information. On Thursday, the company announced that it would give a privacy checkup to every one of its 1.28 billion users worldwide.

Facebook, which is based in Menlo Park, Calif., will also change how it treats new users by initially setting their posts to be seen only by friends. Previously, those posts were accessible to anyone.

And it will explain to both current and new users that setting their privacy to “public” means that anyone on the Internet can see their photos and messages.
Continue reading the main story
Related Coverage

Facebook to Let Users Limit Data Revealed by Log-InsAPRIL 30, 2014
Privacy groups have disputed Facebook over the company’s use of teenagers’ likes and comments in advertising.
Bits Blog: U.S. and California Officials Enter Battle Over Facebook Privacy SettlementMARCH 21, 2014

The change in default settings and the person-by-person review is a sharp reversal for Facebook, whose privacy settings are famously complicated. Some users may be shocked when they see just how widely their personal information has been shared.

Read More: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/23/technology/facebook-offers-privacy-checkup-to-all-1-28-billion-users.html?hp

About the author  ⁄ bluebay

No Comments

Leave a Comment