Watchdog examines Facebook changes
Facebook announced to its users that it intends to combine user data on the site with the photo-sharing service Instagram, which it also owns.
It will also loosen restrictions on emails between members on Facebook and signalled its intention to scrap its current voting policy on changes to Facebook.
The proposed changes would give users more detailed information about shared data including “reminders about what’s visible to other people on Facebook”.
The developments prompted a swift response from the Data Protection Commissioner, who just last September concluded a review into Facebook which forced it to delete data collected from users within the EU for its facial-recognition feature.
In a statement the deputy data protection commissioner Gary Davis said: “We will be seeking urgent further clarification from Facebook Ireland and if we consider that the proposed changes require a specific consent from EU users we will require Facebook to do this.
“We note that this is the consultation stage of their process and that until that stage is over these changes will not be tabled to users. We are currently examining the proposed changes and consider that further clarity will be required in relation to the full effect of some of the changes.”
Facebook has come under increased scrutiny in a number of countries over its access to and use of user information.
According to Bloomberg, data protection is currently policed by separate regulators across the 27-nation EU. The EU’s executive body wants to simplify the system so companies deal with only one data protection regulator in the zone.
The proposed changes to Facebook’s email conditions would alter the current situation where it would replace the ‘Who can send you Facebook messages’ setting with new filters for managing incoming messages.
Incorporating data between Facebook and Instagram would allow for the forming of unified profiles, in a move which mirrors efforts by Google earlier this year to unify user data across its various platforms.
Reuters reported that the Google initiative sparked fears that more personal data would be centralised in one place and would therefore be at greater risk from hackers.
The proposed Facebook changes are open to comments from the public for the next week and if more than 7,000 public comments are received it will mean a vote by users to approve the changes.
However, the vote is only valid if at least 30% of users take part, and Facebook has signalled that it may end the voting policy in future.
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