Facebook to simplify privacy controls in wake of criticism

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Facebook is simplifying its privacy controls amid growing unrest from many of its users.

Protesters have been organizing campaigns to quit Facebook, and privacy groups have complained to regulators after Facebook announced new features last month, including “instant personalization” that tailors other websites to users’ Facebook profiles.

“A lot of people are upset with us,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged at a news conference Wednesday at the company’s Palo Alto, Calif., headquarters.

One complaint has been over the fact that although Facebook allows users to hide their list of interests on their personal profile pages, the user would still show up elsewhere as “liking” that band, company or hobby. Zuckerberg said that under the simplified controls, privacy preferences will be extended to those other places as well.

Zuckerberg said the company also is making it easier for users to decline the instant personalization feature.

He said that as Facebook offered more granularity in its privacy choices, the settings have become too complex for many users. He said Facebook is trying to simplify the controls.

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