Facebook Makes Changes to Privacy Policy. Is it Enough?

They might be small but they’re mighty. While only 26,000 people called it quits during “Quit Facebook Day.” As a result of Facebook user complaints and outrage regarding its “Instant Personalization” Program, Facebook recently announced changes or improvements to its Privacy Policy.  The changes addressed a user’s ability to control their privacy settings and what they share.  The changes are:

1. 1. Facebook created one simple control for users to set their privacy settings.  Previously, users had to go through multiple channels and clicks to change their privacy settings.  Now it can be changed in two clicks.
2. 2. Facebook will no longer make all user basic information visible to the public.  So Facebook is giving users the ability to control who can see their pages and their friends’ pages.
3. 3. Facebook made it easier for users to turn off applications and websites that can access user information.  This includes the Instant Personalization Program.

Essentially Facebook has made it much easier for users to control how their information is shared.  The old process included multiple clicks, convoluted instructions, and confusion.  I do applaud Facebook for this much needed change.  However, I would argue that Facebook did not go far enough.

For example, Facebook is still automatically enrolling users in the Instant Personalization Program and still allows other applications and websites access to user information.  Facebook could have really been a game changer in the social network arena if they had given user’s the ability to opt-out of services instead of automatically opting users in.  Although Facebook has made it much easier for users to opt-out of these services, users still have to go through a process to turn these services off.

In addition, Facebook made a point of stating on their blog, the new privacy policy is permanent and users do not need to worry about any more changes.  I find this statement to be misleading.  As I previously discussed, Facebook can change their privacy policy at their discretion as long as they disclose the changes.  But if users want to learn of any change, they need to periodically check their Site Governance page.

The changes are good, but considering Facebook’s dominance, more needs to be done to make users more comfortable about using the service.

About the Author
Latoicha Givens is the founder and a member of the firm Phillips Givens, LLC. Ms. Givens practice includes represention of start-ups, small, and mid-sized businesses in intellectual property matters, specficially, trademarks, copyrights, and licensing issues. She is the author of IPLAW101.com, a blog covering Intellectual Property issues specifically trademark law - trademark registration and infringement; Domain Name Disputes: Cybersquatting; Licensing and Intellectual Property issues in New Media.
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