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| Facebook changes privacy policy | Facebook changes privacy policy |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Facebook has agreed to make worldwide changes to its privacy policy as a result of negotiations with Canada's privacy commissioner. | Facebook has agreed to make worldwide changes to its privacy policy as a result of negotiations with Canada's privacy commissioner. |
| Last month the social network was found to breach Canadian law by holding on to users' personal data indefinitely. | Last month the social network was found to breach Canadian law by holding on to users' personal data indefinitely. |
| Facebook has now agreed to make changes to the way it handles this information and be more transparent about what data it collects and why. | |
| It will also make it clear that users can deactivate or delete their account. | |
| "These changes mean that the privacy of 200 million Facebook users in Canada and around the world will be far better protected," said Canadian privacy commissioner Jennifer Stoddart. | "These changes mean that the privacy of 200 million Facebook users in Canada and around the world will be far better protected," said Canadian privacy commissioner Jennifer Stoddart. |
| "We're very pleased Facebook has been responsive to our recommendations." | "We're very pleased Facebook has been responsive to our recommendations." |
| The decision could also have implications for other social networking websites, she said. | The decision could also have implications for other social networking websites, she said. |
| Elliot Schrage, vice president of global communications and public policy at Facebook, said he believed the new policies set "a new standard for the industry". | Elliot Schrage, vice president of global communications and public policy at Facebook, said he believed the new policies set "a new standard for the industry". |
| 'Unrestricted access' | 'Unrestricted access' |
| As well as updating the privacy policy, Facebook has said it will make changes that will give users more control over the data they provide to third-party developers of applications, such as games and quizzes. | As well as updating the privacy policy, Facebook has said it will make changes that will give users more control over the data they provide to third-party developers of applications, such as games and quizzes. |
| There are around 950,000 developers in 180 countries who provide applications for the site. | There are around 950,000 developers in 180 countries who provide applications for the site. |
| Specifically, the changes will require applications to state which information they wish to access and obtain consent from the user before it is used or shared. | Specifically, the changes will require applications to state which information they wish to access and obtain consent from the user before it is used or shared. |
| "Application developers have had virtually unrestricted access to Facebook users' personal information," said Ms Stoddart. | "Application developers have had virtually unrestricted access to Facebook users' personal information," said Ms Stoddart. |
| "The changes Facebook plans to introduce will allow users to control the types of personal information that applications can access." | "The changes Facebook plans to introduce will allow users to control the types of personal information that applications can access." |
| The site will also encourage users to review their privacy settings | |
| The social network has said work on the changes will begin immediately but they would take around 12 months to implement. | The social network has said work on the changes will begin immediately but they would take around 12 months to implement. |
| The regulator first started its investigation as a result of complaints by the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) at the University of Ottawa. | The regulator first started its investigation as a result of complaints by the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) at the University of Ottawa. |
| The country is the first to complete a full investigation of Facebook's privacy practices. | |
| Canada has around 12 million Facebook users, more than one in three of the population. | Canada has around 12 million Facebook users, more than one in three of the population. |