Facebook privacy asks for user approval
The social networking giant offers a simpler presentation of its privacy policy and asks for user feedback.


Facebook is overhauling the presentation of its privacy policy, claiming it wants to make it easier to understand for its users.
The world's most popular social networking site is putting its 500 million plus users to good use too, asking them for feedback on the best way to present the information.
"Many websites' privacy policies are challenging for people to understand because they are often written for regulators and privacy advocates, not the majority of people who actually use those websites," the company said in a blog post on the site governance section.
"Our own privacy policy has been criticised as being "5830 words of legalese" and "longer than the US constitution without the amendments." Okay, you're right. We agree that privacy policies can and should be more easily understood, and that inspired us to try something different."
The blog continued to say it planned to make privacy policies "easy to understand," "visual and interactive" and "relevant" to the questions users wanted answered.
To this end, Facebook has designed a new page with targeted headings, aiming to aid users find the information they need, as well as a tool putting them in the place of an advertiser so they can see how the ad targeting process works.
Once users have had a look around, there is a feedback form to send back their thoughts to the designers instantly.
Get the ITPro daily newsletter
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
The privacy policies themselves have not changed, according to the blog, but in the company's "effort to simplify" some new elements have been added to make "concepts clearer."
This new way of viewing privacy policy is not set in stone but Facebook concluded it would "consider making it our official policy" if feedback was positive.
Jennifer Scott is a former freelance journalist and currently political reporter for Sky News. She has a varied writing history, having started her career at Dennis Publishing, working in various roles across its business technology titles, including ITPro. Jennifer has specialised in a number of areas over the years and has produced a wealth of content for ITPro, focusing largely on data storage, networking, cloud computing, and telecommunications.
Most recently Jennifer has turned her skills to the political sphere and broadcast journalism, where she has worked for the BBC as a political reporter, before moving to Sky News.
-
Cleo attack victim list grows as Hertz confirms customer data stolen
News Hertz has confirmed it suffered a data breach as a result of the Cleo zero-day vulnerability in late 2024, with the car rental giant warning that customer data was stolen.
By Ross Kelly
-
Lateral moves in tech: Why leaders should support employee mobility
In-depth Encouraging staff to switch roles can have long-term benefits for skills in the tech sector
By Keri Allan
-
How to use LinkedIn to market yourself as an IT professional
whitepaper Whether you’re updating your LinkedIn profile or creating one for the first time, it’s critical to remain consistent and credible if you hope to raise your profile within the IT industry
By ITPro
-
Meta to pay $725 million in Cambridge Analytica lawsuit settlement
News The settlement closes the long-running lawsuit into how Facebook's owner, Meta, handled the Cambridge Analytica scandal
By Ross Kelly
-
Businesses to receive unique Twitter verification badge in platform overhaul
News There will be new verification systems for businesses, governments, and individuals - each receiving differently coloured checkmarks
By Connor Jones
-
Twitter could charge $20 a month for 'blue tick' verification, following Musk takeover
News Developers have allegedly been given just seven days to implement the changes or face being fired
By Rory Bathgate
-
Meta's earnings are 'cause for concern' and 2023 looks even bleaker
Analysis Calls for investor faith in metaverse tech only emphasise the worries that its investment strategy won't pay off
By Rory Bathgate
-
Microsoft and Meta announce integration deal between Teams and Workplace
News Features from both business collaboration platforms will be available to users without having to switch apps
By Connor Jones
-
Facebook is shutting down its controversial facial recognition system
News The move will see more than a billion facial templates removed from Facebook's records amid a push for more private applications of the technology
By Connor Jones
-
'Changing name to Meat': Industry reacts to Facebook's Meta rebrand
News The rebrand attempts to provide a clearer distinction between Facebook and its umbrella company
By Connor Jones