Intelligent Privacy Controls from Facebook

Facebook has begun testing a new update entitled publisher, amongst other things it gives users more control over the security of their accounts, allowing them to control access to their profiles in a granular fashion. The update comes in response to complaints from users that they had no control over who out of their friends saw their status updates and wall posts etc.

To anyone that doesn’t use Facebook this might seem like a small thing, but to the tens of millions who log on every day, this could prove to be a godsend. As all Facebook users know friends on the site do not all fall into the same category, some you night have known since play school, others you might have met once at a party and then forgotten you ever added. There are quite feasibly numerous things on Facebook that you’d be happy with your real, offline mates seeing that you might not be happy with almost strangers looking at, things like phone numbers, invitations to parties etc.

The new measures take on even more significance when you consider the possibility of excluding workmates and business contacts from seeing certain elements of your profile. It doesn’t take a business consultant to see that a status update like ‘Tara is sooo hung over this morning’ is not going to endear you to your boss.

The new system will also make phishing and other malware practices harder, simply by virtue of the fact that there will be less personal information out there to steal. It is however unlikely to do much about the employers’ growing concerns that workplace facebook use could compromise security. It will however make the quick background check performed by prospective boy/girlfriends and employers that little bit harder. Which is either good or bad, depending on your point of view.

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5. Enhancement due for Facebook Query suggestion feature
6. Facebook concedes to privacy critics