Facebook Privacy Settings
27th May 2010

Social network Facebook says it's implementing one-click privacy settings but dataplex is warning that users still have to be vigilant in protecting private information.

Facebook has introduced the changes after concerns from governments and individuals about how public users’ private information has become.

dataplex marketing director, Charles Barratt, said: “The growth of social networking is a sign of the times we live in. Sharing information is a good thing and the practice will evolve and develop as technology advances.

“The concern is with the protection of users’ information and the historic complexity and default configuration of these social media websites.  Users need to be diligent and it’s advisable to think carefully about what information you want to make public. You then need to be vigilant about any changes social networks make to privacy settings.”

Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, admitted to BBC News that settings had “gotten complex” for users. “We needed to simplify controls,“ he told a news conference.

The BBC’s technology correspondent, Rory Cellan-Jones, appears sceptical about Facebook’s changes. “On the face of it, Mark Zuckerberg has delivered on his promise to make the privacy settings simpler. But questions remain. The recommended settings still look designed to encourage users to share just about everything. Experience shows that every change at Facebook seems innocuous at first and then creeps up later to bite some users and the company itself,” he writes on the BBC website.

Charles Barratt said: “From what we can tell, the changes are mostly cosmetic. Users can choose whether their data is seen by everyone, friends only or friends of friends. It’s good to see that Facebook has taken note of the issues and created a simpler way for users to gain control of their information.

“Social media is a great way to interact but it can compromise the security of your corporate systems and data.  dataplex can help organisations use this technology to maximise online collaboration but in a secure manner. 

“We have consultants and engineers who understand the implications of this technology and who can design protection for your environment.  And, as we have an independent approach to security technology, we can provide impartial advice and the best solutions.”

Link to Mark Zuckerber’s interview with BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/10167143.stm

Dataplex, based in Manchester and Oxfordshire, is the UK’s leading independent information and communications technology company and employs 50 people. The company works within business, industry and the public sector.

For more information and interviews, please contact:

Richard Sparrow Managing Director 07763 773 585

Charles Barratt, Business Development and Marketing Director 07900 900 976