Facebook, FTC in talks over privacy settings
Facebook is in talks with the Federal Trade Commission to settle claims that it violated users’ privacy when it changed default privacy settings to disclose more information than was previously made public, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
The proposed 20-year settlement would require Facebook to get express consent from users before sharing material posted under earlier, more restrictive terms, said the person, who declined to be identified because the settlement isn’t final. It would also compel an annual, independent review of Facebook’s privacy practices.
The FTC is stepping up its enforcement of privacy requirements at Internet companies and already has settled complaints with Google and Twitter this year.
Cecilia Prewett, a spokeswoman for the FTC, and Andrew Noyes, a Facebook spokesman based in Washington, declined to comment on the talks.
Facebook is under pressure to protect individuals’ information as it seeks revenue from the more than 800 million users who play games, post photos and communicate using the site. The Palo Alto company, which people familiar with the matter said may hold an initial public offering as early as next year, is also under scrutiny in the European Union for possible privacy-rule breaches over use of personal data.