When it comes to privacy, Facebook is not really the best candidate given all the numerous data scandals it has been through in past. However, CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to make it better through a ‘privacy-focused’ revamp of the site.
Zuckerberg recently published a blog post stating how he plans to make the social networking site newer and more private by including private interactions, using end-to-end encryption and much more.
“I understand that many people don’t think Facebook can or would even want to build this kind of privacy-focused platform -- because frankly we don’t currently have a strong reputation for building privacy protective services,” Zuckerberg wrote. However, he stressed that Facebook has ‘repeatedly’ evolved to create feature that people want.
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Zuckerberg mentioned that the privacy-focused platform will be built around several principles. These include private interactions where people will have ‘simple, intimate places’ to have clear control over their data. They also aim to include end-to-end encryption where user’s private communication will be secure even from Facebook.
The new feature will include reducing permanence where messages or stories won’t be around for longer than necessary so that what users share won’t come back to hurt them later. Interoperability will help people use any of Facebook’s apps and communicate more easily and securely.
Moreover, other factors including safety and secure data storage ideas are also included in the privacy-focused feature that will be developed over the next few years. “This will take some time, but we’re not going to develop this major change in our direction behind closed doors. We’re going to do this as openly and collaboratively as we can because many of these issues affect different parts of society.”
“I believe we should be working towards a world where people can speak privately and live freely knowing that their information will only be seen by who they want to see it and won’t all stick around forever. If we can help move the world in this direction, I will be proud of the difference we’ve made,” Zuckerberg concluded.