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Canada's privacy czar announced on Thursday that Facebook has agreed to better secure the privacy of the popular social networking site's users.
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.
"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.
The changes are to be made over the next year to Facebook's entire network and would apply worldwide, she said.
They are also expected to satisfy similar concerns of EU regulators and Australia's privacy commissioner, said Facebook executives.
"We're very confident that by meeting the requirements of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, that will help us" in dealing with privacy concerns of officials in other countries, said Richard Allan, Facebook director of European privacy and policy. "These changes will be worldwide."
"Increasingly, the protection of personal information is a global issue," said Stoddart. "Our personal information is now constantly circling the planet.
"I would hope, that in the future, more due diligence in the area of privacy will be done by global technology firms," she said.
The Canadian commission had probed Facebook's policy of holding onto personal information from deactivated accounts in violation of Canadian law.
The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act requires organizations to retain personal information only for as long as is necessary to meet appropriate purposes.
The investigation was prompted by a complaint from the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic.
Last month, a commission report expressed "an overarching concern" that privacy information Facebook provides its more than 250 million users is "often confusing or incomplete."
Facebook was also accused of not adequately restricting access that outside software developers have to personal information people put on profile pages.
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.
The commissioner's report estimated that 950,000 developers in 180 countries craft Facebook applications, with games and quiz programs among favorites.
Michael Richter, Facebook's deputy general council, outlined several changes that will "ensure users have complete control over their privacy," such as:
-- preventing applications developed by third parties from accessing information unless express consent is obtained
-- making it clear to users they can deactivate or delete accounts (only deleting removes the information from Facebook servers)
-- and clarifying that a deceased user's information would remain on the website so friends can pay tribute online, but that the data would be deleted at the family's request
"It will take time to build and test the changes," said Dave Morin, Facebook senior platform manager. "But we truly feel that these improvements to Facebook ... will bring in a new privacy standard to the social web."
With the conclusion of the Canadian investigation, Stoddart said her office is now looking at other social networking sites.
One unnamed social networking website operator has already stepped forward to discuss privacy issues with the commissioner, she said.
"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.
"Other sites should take note, and take steps to ensure they're complying with Canadian law."
