Facebook is removing the connections privacy model
In a move that may end up drastically scaling back what Facebook had hoped last month would be a redefinition of the Web itself, the social service will soon begin rolling out simplified privacy controls, according to a blog post today from CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The new controls may make it easier for Facebook users to limit the extent to which the system shares their personal information with others, especially including other Web sites.
Continuing to deflect criticism, the CEO said that Facebook had always offered a multiplicity of privacy controls, but "if you find them too hard to use then you won't feel like you have control. Unless you feel in control, then you won't be comfortable sharing and our service will be less useful for you. We agree we need to improve this.
"We've reduced the amount of basic information that must be visible to everyone and we are removing the connections privacy model," Zuckerberg announced. "Now we'll be giving you the ability to control who can see your friends and pages. These fields will no longer have to be public."
