1.5 billion Facebook users in Africa, Asia, Australia and Latin America would not be protected by the new European privacy law. As the law would be implemented in Facebook Ireland and not Facebook U.S., everyone outside the EU would not be protected but Facebook has said its planned clearer privacy rules and changes worldwide.
The privacy changes were announced ahead of Facebook’s upcoming implementation of the new EU General Data Protection Regulation privacy policy. The new additions would mostly enhance transparency around its preexisting privacy settings. Users would have the choice to opt out of features including letting the app use data from websites they visit, to continue sharing political, religious and relationship information on profiles, and its facial recognition technology.
However, data collection for targeted advertisements would not be optional as said by the company to reporters at its headquarters at Menlo Park, California. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had said Facebook needs to use targeted advertising to remain a free app.
Zuckerberg has been asked to appear before the European Parliament. According to Reuters, EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova told an assembly of lawmakers, “I advised, Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg that Zuckerberg should accept the invitation from the European Parliament … as a measure of rebuilding trust”. And, according to Reuters, Facebook’s Vice President Joel Kaplan is to privately meet with Germany’s Federal Parliament, the Bundestag, on Friday
about its data collection and privacy policies.
Other Facebook Updates;
A BuzzFeed News investigation discovered dozens of UK posts on Facebook, Craigslist, and RoomBuddies offering gay men accommodation in return for sex. Facebook and RoomBuddies said to have taken such posts down when they noticed them.
Hackers attacked over 40,000 Facebook users using a malware disguised as a painting application called Relieve Stress. According to data security firm Radware, the malware harvests user credentials and other information stored in their accounts. Facebook is investigating the issue.
