It is a partial victory for German data protection: Facebook modified its controversial search process for friends. In future, members and non-members' capacity to take effect can may use if and in what way the social network of their address data. Had reported at the weekend about it, then came the official confirmation.The Hamburg Supervisor John Caspar reported on Monday to bring on an agreement with the online network, the function in accordance with the Data Protection Policy. The much-discussed "Friend Finder" to help Facebook users, quickly found friends among the more than 550 million members. The dispute with the data protection sparked primarily at a function - the evaluation of e-mail contacts.
New users will be asked of Facebook if they want to give the "Friend Finder" to access their address book. Facebook's iPhone app, for example, transfers all the contacts that are stored on the phone automatically to the continued use of Facebook. The advantage of this: The software on the e-mail addresses known to the respective user in the Facebook directory fished out, so that such persons can immediately connect.
A critical point of view of privacy advocates: Facebook gets it also addresses non-members in hand, sends them unsolicited invitation mail. Above all, users whose address books are now transferred no way to access such stored data or to delete it. That should change now. More control of address data Caspar took this approach in principle concern, however, had to admit: "Even more advanced solutions, such as the complete absence of importing data from third parties, were not reached in the negotiations." For legal reasons, this would also be difficult to implement.
But it was the opposition by privacy advocates opportunity for invited non-members. A link in the invitation emails, you should be able to ban Facebook in the future to use their e-mail addresses for the friends search. Basically found that Facebook is not the e-mail addresses only for the search and friends could use it for other purposes, said Caspar.
Facebook has been accused in the past again and again to loose handling of user data. It then suffered the privacy settings for detail. Caspar refers again and again, however, that German authorities could control the privacy policies of Facebook is difficult because the files are located on servers abroad.
By Facebook on Monday there was no comment on the content of the agreement. They said only: "We are delighted that we have a solution with the Hamburg Data Protection Officer of the concerns about the" Friend Finder "for coming and look forward to continuing the constructive discussion and dialogue." Further need for discussion also provides data protection Caspar: "We now expect a timely implementation of our agreement and will accompany them critical respect, we hope that Facebook maintains that shown willingness to co-operative co-operation and indeed the detailed results of our negotiations in the interests of non-users as well as users.
implemented in a transparent manner. This is also true for negotiations on further data protection needs adjustment on Facebook, which will be to lead us. "
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