Facebook extends 'privacy' to outside apps

SOCIAL NOTWORKING SERVICE Facebook is rolling out a feature that requires outside applications and websites to tell users exactly what parts of their profiles have to be shared.

The current rules are that apps have to ask users for permission to access anything in their profiles that isn't public, however it is not clear what information is being used.

Since this public information could include photos, your friends' birthdays or your email address, it is pretty important.

Users will be told what the app will take, but they will not have the option to say "don't take this bit", obviously, otherwise the app would not work. They still have to either grant permission or reject the app.

Facebook announced the change in April and it is part of trying to butter up Canada's privacy commissioner, who has been a bit miffed with the outfit.

The social notworking outfit has gotten a bit of stick about its users' privacy, or rather lack of privacy, lately. Privacy advocates and politicians have been whingeing about Facebook's Instant Personalization feature, which draws information from users' profiles to customize a handful of other websites, including the review service Yelp and the music service Pandora.

Facebook simplified its privacy settings in changes it unveiled last month, though some critics still say these changes don't go far enough. µ