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Facebook's Zuckerberg unveils privacy tool 'clear history' ahead of F8

CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the feature, which lets you delete data about apps and websites you've interacted with, in a Facebook post before developer conference F8.

Joan E. Solsman Former Senior Reporter
Joan E. Solsman was CNET's senior media reporter, covering the intersection of entertainment and technology. She's reported from locations spanning from Disneyland to Serbian refugee camps, and she previously wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal. She bikes to get almost everywhere and has been doored only once.
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  • Three Folio Eddie award wins: 2018 science & technology writing (Cartoon bunnies are hacking your brain), 2021 analysis (Deepfakes' election threat isn't what you'd think) and 2022 culture article (Apple's CODA Takes You Into an Inner World of Sign)
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Joan E. Solsman
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Mark Zuckerberg's keynote address at Facebook's developer conference

 James Martin/CNET

Facebook is introducing a new privacy tool called "clear history," CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Tuesday with a personal Facebook post. 

The tool will allow you to see information about the apps and websites you've interacted with, and you'll be able to clear this information from your account. 

Watch this: Zuckerberg unveils 'clear history' software tool

The news came less within hours of the kickoff keynote at on Facebook's F8 developer conference, which is being held in San Jose. The mostly-annual conference began as a time for Facebook to announce major initiatives, such as its technology to connect user's accounts with websites around the web, as well as revamped designs for user's profile pages. Most recently, it's used the event to discuss better ways it's allowing app developers to tie into its services, like games for its Messenger service, augmented reality features for its Facebook app, and new artificial intelligence programs.

Zuckerberg has also increasingly used the event to discuss Facebook's role in the world as one of the internet's most powerful companies.

Facebook's F8 Developer Conference: Follow CNET's coverage.

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