Tiny fraction of required 270 million Facebook users squeak ‘no’ to changes

tiny-fraction-of-required-270-million-facebook-users

Facebook users rebuked proposed privacy changes in a vote on Friday -- to the tune of 87 percent -- but a thousand times higher turnout was needed for it to matter. As such, the company will likely proceed with the additions, which it said were needed to clarify current policies for European and US regulators. However, the company was sufficiently chastened by the anemic turnout of 342,600 voters to state that it was "pretty disappointing," and spokeswoman Jame Schopflin said in the future, they will consider the vote "advisory" if numbers were too low. Still, groups like Our Policy who started the petition for this referendum might want to pick their battles better next time.

Tiny fraction of required 270 million Facebook users squeak 'no' to changes originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jun 2012 03:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook to experiment with access for under-13s

Facebook to experiment with access for minors

Facebook is exploring options to connect kids to its social network, while ensuring it obeys federal laws. According to the Wall Street Journal, the social network is pushing for a more formalized structure for under-13s in an effort to curb users registering under a false age. Consumer Reports currently pegs the number of under-age users at around 7.5 million. Despite other privacy concerns, Facebook is reportedly looking to add buffers and parental controls to any kid-friendly version that might result from its current experiments. It could also tie parents' accounts to their little tykes' pages, allowing game purchases to be made through their bank details. Well, that new HQ isn't going to pay for itself.

Facebook to experiment with access for under-13s originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 04:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook to put privacy changes to vote thanks to policy group, its own rules

facebook-privacy-changes-vote-our-policy

A vote on Facebook privacy rules prompted by 45,000 comments plastered on its governance page is likely to trigger consequences -- maybe some not intended. With Max Schrems' Our Policy site easily egging the number past the 7,000 threshold, the now-public social company must wait to see if 30 percent of its user base will object to the seemingly modest revisions. With the flock now numbering nearly 800 million, it seems unlikely that 230 million of them will bother to even vote, let alone strike the changes down. Given that and Facebook's privacy Czar Erin Egan saying that it will now revisit the vote policy, it's possible the only result will be a change in terms which could stymie future privacy efforts. Want to have your say? Check the more coverage link to find out where to go.

Facebook to put privacy changes to vote thanks to policy group, its own rules originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 02 Jun 2012 23:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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