Facebook plans to make privacy easier

CourierMail.com.au

Facebook says it plans to simplify privacy controls at the popular social-networking service to appease critics.

"We've spent the last couple of weeks listening to users and consulting with experts in California; Washington, DC, and around the world," Facebook spokesman Andrew Noyes said.

"The messages we've received are pretty clear. Users appreciate having precise and comprehensive controls, but want them to be simpler and easier to use."

Facebook contended that members like new programs rolled out at the California-based Internet hotspot but want easy ways to opt out of sharing personal information with third-party applications or websites.

"We're listening to this input and incorporating it into innovations we hope to announce shortly," Mr Noyes said.

Facebook has been under fire from US privacy and consumer groups, US lawmakers and the European Union over new features that critics claim compromise the privacy of its more than 400 million members.