UK users to get opt-out for facial recognition technology and ads

0 Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg has faced tough questions on data Facebook has begun asking users in the UK if they are happy for it to use features such as facial recognition and types of targeted advertising.

The social media company announced that it is enhancing privacy safeguards for users around the world as it complies with new European rules designed to make it easier for consumers to give and withdraw consent for the use of their data.

“Everyone – no matter where they live – will be asked to review important information about how Facebook uses data and make choices about their privacy on Facebook,” the company said in a blog post.

“We’ll begin by rolling these choices out in Europe this week.”

The European Union rules require consent forms to be written in plain language anyone can understand, as the EU targets the legalese buried in pages of terms and conditions that few users actually read before clicking “I Agree”.

The regulations also require that consent must be as easy to withdraw as it is to give.

As part of the changes, Facebook users in Europe and Canada will for the first time be able to opt into the network’s facial recognition technology, which has been available in most other parts of the world for the past six years, the company said.

Users will also be asked whether they want to allow Facebook to use data from partners such as apps and websites to tailor the advertisments they see online, and whether they want to share political, religious or relationship information from their profiles.

“We not only want to comply with the law, but also go beyond our obligations to build new and improved privacy experiences for everyone on Facebook,” it said.