Facebook makes its privacy tools easier to find

Facebook today announced it has overhauled its privacy tools, consolidating some into a single screen, and making others vastly easier to access.

Previously, Facebook’s privacy settings on mobile were spread across 20 different screens. Now, users just have to head to one place. The company has also removed privacy settings that it felt were ‘outdated.’

It has also launched a new privacy shortcuts menu, which contains commonly-used functions pertaining to privacy and account security. From here, you can do things like set up two-factor authentication, limit who can see your posts, and control advertising preferences.

The company has also launched a tool that makes it simpler for users to download and delete the information Facebook holds on them. This tool is called Access Your Information. In a blog post, Erin Egan, VP and Chief Privacy Officer, and Ashlie Beringer, VP and Deputy General Counsel, wrote:

It’s one thing to have a policy explaining what data we collect and use, but it’s even more useful when people see and manage their own information. Some people want to delete things they’ve shared in the past, while others are just curious about the information Facebook has. So we’re introducing Access Your Information – a secure way for people to access and manage their information, such as posts, reactions, comments, and things you’ve searched for. You can go here to delete anything from your timeline or profile that you no longer want on Facebook.

We’re also making it easier to download the data you’ve shared with Facebook – it’s your data, after all. You can download a secure copy and even move it to another service. This includes photos you’ve uploaded, contacts you’ve added to your account, posts on your timeline, and more.

These three product changes have landed when Facebook is (rightly) getting hammered for its negligent attitude to user privacy. The Cambridge Analytica/AggregateIQ scandal is still ongoing. This event has forced users to take a look at what data Facebook is collecting on them, and they don’t like what they see.

By launching these tools, Facebook is aiming to restore public trust in the world’s biggest social network It’s also aiming to restore confidence in both advertisers and investors, who are increasingly regarding Facebook as a tainted brand. In recent weeks, Mozilla has suspended all advertising on Facebook, while banking giant Nordea’s sustainable investment unit has announced it plans to divest itself from all Facebook stock.