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Privacy & Data

CDT Statement on Facebook’s New Privacy Settings

CDT has long called for granular controls like the ones Facebook has introduced; today, Facebook answered the call. 

Facebook today moved away from a system in which a user's information could automatically be shared with an entire regional network often without the user's understanding. They've additionally incorporated a new set of user controls and changed default settings.

Below is a statement from CDT Vice President Ari Schwartz: 

"We think that the granular controls available for posting information and sharing with applications are very good.  These controls will allow users to be very specific about what information on their page is going where and to whom.  However, in moving to the new system, Facebook made certain default settings pre-checked to share with everyone; in the old system the default settings shared this information with fewer people.  New or less informed users may actually end up opening up their information to a broader audience than they would have wanted.  The privacy 'wizard' needs to present users with options other than share with 'everyone' or 'old settings'.

"The new controls raise serious concerns that Facebook users who accept the default settings may have less privacy protection than before. However, Facebook can easily set the defaults to ensure that today's changes are a net positive for all users."