A Tough Task for Facebook: European-Type Privacy for All

What would it mean for users if Facebook offered the same privacy controls required under the European law? That is still a work in progress. In the meantime, here are some of the general requirements and rights under the new European law. Although some of the practical steps that companies must take are still being worked out, several European privacy and consumer advocates, who had pushed for the new law, offered their thoughts on what Facebook might need to do to extend the protections to its users worldwide.

1. Companies are required to collect and store only the minimum amount of user data to provide a specific, stated service.
2. Companies must clear and plain language to explain how they will use their users’ personal details. The companies must also provide information about what other kinds of entities users’ data will be shared with. 
3. The European law gives individuals the right not to be subject to completely automated decisions which significantly affect them.
4. The European law gives people the right obtain a copy of the records that companies hold about them.