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Irish regulators seek 'urgent' clarity on Facebook data changes

Following recently announced changes to Facebook's data-use policy, Irish privacy regulators are seeking further details on the proposals.

Zack Whittaker Writer-editor
Zack Whittaker is a former security editor for CNET's sister site ZDNet.
Zack Whittaker
2 min read

Irish regulators are seeking "urgent" clarifications from Facebook after the world's largest social network informed users that it plans to change its privacy policy.

Facebook proposed changes on Wednesday to its site governance and privacy policies -- including its data-use policy and its statement of rights and responsibilities -- which may lead to the abolition of user votes on Facebook's practices.

The changes would also give users more detailed information about their own data, including additional features to help users manage their messages and reminders about the visibility of various user's content to other members of the social network.

However, the Irish privacy watchdog's deputy commissioner Gary Davis said today it will be "seeking urgent further clarification from Facebook Ireland and if we consider that the proposed changes require a specific consent from EU users we will require Facebook to do this," reports Bloomberg Businessweek.

Facebook Ireland is currently responsible for all the site's users in the European Union.

Davis noted that the proposals were still in the consultation process, and until that process is over the changes will not be brought to the attention of Facebook users.

Facebook said it remains in "regular contact" with the Irish regulator to ensure it maintains "high standards of transparency," in a statement to the news publication.

Regulators from Ireland's privacy and data protection watchdog, the Irish Data Protection Commissioner, oversee any changes on behalf of the European Union. In September, the regulator wrapped up the Facebook review that forced the 1 billion strong social network to delete facial recognition data held on EU-based users among other changes.