The negotiated settlement follows an investigation by Canada’s privacy commissioner into Facebook’s handling of personal information, such as holding on to it after accounts are closed, in violation of Canadian law.<\/p>\n
“This morning, I am very pleased to be able to tell you that — following further discussions with Facebook — the company has now agreed to make several changes which address the issues uncovered during our investigation,” Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart told a press conference.<\/p>\n
The changes are to be rolled out over the next year to Facebook’s entire network and would apply worldwide, she said.<\/p>\n
The tweaks are expected to satisfy similar concerns of EU regulators and Australia’s privacy commissioner, Stoddart added.<\/p>\n
“Increasingly, the protection of personal information is a global issue. Our personal information is now constantly circling the planet,” she said.<\/p>\n
“I would hope, that in the future, more due diligence in the area of privacy will be done by global technology firms.” The commission had probed Facebook’s policy of holding onto personal information from deactivated accounts in violation of Canadian law established by a Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.<\/p>\n
The law requires organizations to retain personal information only for as long as is necessary to meet appropriate purposes.<\/p>\n
The investigation was prompted by a complaint from the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic.<\/p>\n
Last month, a commission report also expressed “an overarching concern” that privacy information Facebook provides its more than 250 million users is “often confusing or incomplete.” As well, Facebook was accused of not adequately restricting access that outside software developers have to personal information people put on profile pages.<\/p>\n
A key to Facebook’s popularity has been the capability of third-party developers to make fun, functional, or hip mini-programs that people can install on profile pages.<\/p>\n
The commissioner’s report estimated that 950,000 developers in 180 countries craft Facebook applications, with games and quiz programs among favorites.<\/p>\n
With the conclusion of the investigation, Stoddart said her office is now looking at other social networking sites to ensure compliance with Canadian law.<\/p>\n
One unnamed website operator has already stepped forward to discuss privacy issues with the commissioner, she said.<\/p>\n
“With the conclusion of the Facebook investigation, our office has made clear our expectations for how social networking sites need to protect personal information,” said Assistant Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham, who led the Facebook investigation.<\/p>\n
“Other sites should take note, and take steps to ensure they’re complying with Canadian law.”<\/p>\n