Facebook 'Re-Imagines' Its Privacy Policy

Facebook is giving its privacy policy a makeover.

The world's largest social network is not changing the terms of its privacy policy, but rather rehauling the way in which the information is presented in an attempt to make its privacy information more accessible and useful for users.

According to Facebook, the "re-imagined" layout is more interactive, "layers" information to provide an overview of key topics, clusters related information together, relies more heavily on images, and is written in more straightforward language with a minimum of legalese.

"We agree that privacy policies can and should be more easily understood, and that inspired us to try something different," Facebook wrote in its introduction to the "new privacy policy written for regular people." "[W]e've tried not to change the substance of the policy but, in our effort to simplify, we have added some new things that were elsewhere on the site (like our help center) and have made some other concepts clearer."

Facebook has posted a series of graphics highlighting the difference between its new, simplified privacy policy and the existing version.

Among other tools, users can see the type of information visible to Facebook's advertisers by previewing the tools advertisers use to create targeted ads, check up on the applications that have access to their profile information, and more.

"Very good idea to have a more simple way of presenting the privacy policy," one Facebook commenter noted. "However, I think it should complement rather than replace the current way of presenting it."

Another remarked, "The format is better but there is still way way to [sic] much text. It must be possible to simplify it and abbreviate it. Otherwise even with the improved interface and layout people won't read it all."

Check out the revamped privacy policy here, then tell us what you think of it in the comments below. Is it an improvement or not?

Comments

[Lindsay2Oh]

10:22 AM on 03/01/2011

Ah hah! See how we are commenting on privacy with the first-ever drama on Facebook! The 8-episode thriller uses Facebook social networking features and creative programming for an experience that is part book, part TV, and part live-theatre. The Scrimms is a provocative story of a Facebook family torn apart by greed, obsession, and loss of privacy. The series makes the audience complicit in the uncensored voyeurism of The Scrimms’ twisted lives. thttp://on.fb.me/aJ0YeE

[POLINUT]

04:52 AM on 03/01/2011

Wrong! All wrong! You have to write it in language Facebook users understand. To wit:

Mmmmoooooooooooo.

Now go put your entire life online and complain when somebody sells it.

[diehard2]

06:36 PM on 02/28/2011

Learn that Privacy Policy! And follow the Creed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akb5NyZaA9c

[ultra08]

03:34 PM on 02/28/2011

Facebook.. the biggest joke ever.hahahahaha....

[themainpoint]

09:29 AM on 02/28/2011

Privacy? WHAT privacy? If they are serious about privacy,they can start by deleting all those databases in which personal information is already stored.

[orchidOne]

01:36 AM on 02/28/2011

blah blah blah

[realitytrumpsbull]

08:58 PM on 02/27/2011

I think privacy and security are a misnomer, in the Digital Age. No such thing, only levels of proficiency in obtaining information from computer networks. Corporations employ professional 'hackers' to go and do their datamining 'magic', Facebook itself has been a victim of data theft, some 100 million users' worth of information, if indeed that's What Really Happened. So it's claimed, anyway. 

But, any concern about Facebook is probably a concern you could level at the entire internet, as there's people around the world with insider info and advanced degrees in computer science that can probably make short work of just about any computer system you point them at. 

Even for people that have never used the web in their lives, data miners and mining companies can still develop an extensive profile of them. We live in the information age, smile for the birdie! And, if you're really worried about other people getting your info, stop posting it online, either at Facebook, or anywhere else. And, good luck with that.

[masterdaddy0]

01:22 PM on 02/27/2011

They should just streamline it already. Make it like Myspace where either someone can see your profile or they can't. All of these other options are excessive and a waste of time for users and the company itself.

[larmarch5]

11:36 AM on 02/27/2011

Isn't this a weekly ta-da? I cancelled my facebutt accout a month ago. Anything goldman sachs is buying into cannot come to a good end.

[novabird]

06:16 AM on 02/27/2011

So Facebook is improving its privacy policy to make it better for "real people". heh. And I have a bridge I would like to sell you.

Last year I santized my profile, and removed all old messages, I wiped my wall, I removed all personal information and all photos. Then I placed the tightest privacy settings on FB possible but I have zero trust that anything I put on Facebook is safe or that anything Zuckerberg says is true.

[JackDeath]

05:53 AM on 02/27/2011

I remember when the paranoid crazy with their conspiracy theories about the FBI, CIA, and other government agencies holding computer files on the movement and behaviour of the American people. Now, we have Facebook doing it free, and people are lining up like lambs to the slaughter to share their most personal information they would never normally give the government to some privately held incorporated company, who then can repackage and sell that information to anyone they feel like, including the government.

[Bali Boy]

02:39 AM on 02/27/2011

Now if Huffingtonpost can "re-imagine" their mod/censorship policy?

[shushu126]

02:25 AM on 02/27/2011

test

[shushu126]

02:20 AM on 02/27/2011

hahaha

[SuperBenFranklin]

11:54 PM on 02/26/2011

Don't they so this every month. ... And nothing really changes.