Facebook yields to pressure from various quarters, including the European Commission, and changes its user terms

In the wake of discussions with the European Commission and with consumer protection authorities, Facebook agrees to amend its user terms and to clarify what it does with user data. 

On 9 April, the European Commission and assorted consumer protection authorities welcomed the update to Facebook’s terms and services, which now clearly explain how the company uses its users’ data to develop profiling activities and create targeted advertising, which is a major revenue engine for the company. 

The new terms detail what services Facebook sells to third parties, how consumers can close their accounts and under what conditions accounts can be disabled. These developments are aimed at obtaining full disclosure of Facebook’s business model in comprehensive and plain language.

Vera Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, welcomed the agreement:

“Today Facebook finally shows commitment to more transparency and straight forward language in its terms of use. A company that wants to restore consumers trust after the Facebook/ Cambridge Analytica scandal should not hide behind complicated, legalistic jargon on how it is making billions on people’s data. Now, users will clearly understand that their data is used by the social network to sell targeted ads. By joining forces, the consumer authorities and the European Commission, stand up for the rights of EU consumers.”

So what, exactly, will change after Facebook introduces new language to its user terms ? The special document published in this connection offers some details.