Facebook CEO Unveils Simplified Privacy Settings

May 26, 2010— -- After a wave of criticism from Facebook users, lawmakers and the media over the company's privacy strategy, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg today responded to user concerns and unveiled simplified privacy controls.

At a press conference at Facebook's Palo Alto, California, headquarters, Zuckerberg said the company listened to user feedback on privacy controls and has given them a "pretty big overhaul."

"The number one thing that we've heard is that through all these changes and building up more and more granular controls over time, the settings have become complex and it has become hard for people to use them," he said.

Zuckerberg said that over the next few days and weeks Facebook will roll out a new system that will let users change their settings from one privacy page and with a few clicks decide if friends, friends of friends or everyone will be able to see their information.

He said the settings will apply retroactively to information already on the site as well as to any new Facebook products moving forward.

Zuckerberg also said Facebook's changes will reduce the amount of basic information that is visible to everyone. Instead of making all friend lists and pages automatically public, he said people can choose who can see that information.

Facebook recommends that users keep the information public so that it's easier for others to find them, but it will let users control the information from the privacy page in "Basic Directory Information."

Another key change involved the controversial Instant Personalization feature, which instantly shared user data with some Web sites. Zuckerberg said that instead of having to contend with the previous system's complicated opt-out process, users could click just a few buttons to disable the feature.

"A lot of what we've heard is just that people want a simple way to control whenever any of their information is shared with third parties," he said, adding that the new controls also let users easily opt-out of the platform that shares user information with Facebook games and applications.

Zuckerberg said the feedback from users really "resonated" with the company and that designers and engineers worked weekends to get the simplified controls ready for users.

The 26-year-old CEO defended the company's approach to privacy and sharing, affirming several times that Facebook takes user privacy seriously.

"We really do believe in privacy and giving people control," he said.

But he also said that the feedback Facebook hears from users indicates that "how they believe they want to share is shifting."