Facebook, being forced by the Privacy activists has taken this step. And this is the second time Facebook Inc. is letting users vote on policy changes.
The first time was in 2009 when Facebook was a much smaller, privately held company with about 200 million users.
Users will have until June 8th to Vote on the Statements of Rights and Responsibilities and Data use Policy Changes. Users will be directed to the voting page from ads in the sidebar of Facebook's website, an a banner at the top of its mobile interfaces.
Users will have the option of voting in favor of adopting the two new policy documents or in favor of keeping the existing policies. Voting will be closed at 8:59 a.m PT on June 8 and users will be notified about this on the website.
An Independent Auditor will examine the vote tabulation.
The most significant changes users will be voting on are :
- A clarification regarding Facebook's existing policy that it may use your data to serve you ads outside of Facebook.com while you're on other website.
- A detailed new chart of how Facebook uses cookies to improve Facebook but not track you across the web.
- A more detailed explanation, of how in some cases Facebook will "retain your data as long as necessary to provide you services", whether that's less or more time.
If accepted, this opens up the possibility for Facebook to start showing people ads on the outside websites, targeting the pitches to interests and hobbies that users express on Facebook.
Over 48,000 comments were posted on the Data Use Policy proposal and 51,000 comments on the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities proposal, when they were made available by Facebook for user feedback earlier in May,2012. And as per Facebook, user feedbacks from their comments were incorporated into the proposals.
The Vote is being conducted Here.
