Back in May of 2018, Facebook announced a new privacy tool called Clear History, and now the company has finally started to roll the tool out.
The new Clear History privacy tool for Facebook will let you see exactly what data Facebook has collected on you.
If you clear your off-Facebook activity, we’ll remove your identifying information from the data that apps and websites choose to send us. We won’t know which websites you visited or what you did there, and we won’t use any of the data you disconnect to target ads to you on Facebook, Instagram, or Messenger. We expect this could have some impact on our business, but we believe giving people control over their data is more important.
Initial Rollout and Future Plans
Facebook is rolling the tool out to Ireland, Spain, and South Korea first. It will be released in more countries soon, although there are no details on a launch date for the US or UK yet. This phased rollout approach allows Facebook to monitor the tool’s performance and make any necessary adjustments before a broader release. Users in these initial countries will be able to access the Clear History tool through their Facebook settings, where they can view and manage the data collected from their off-Facebook activities.
How Clear History Works
The Clear History tool is designed to give users more control over their data by allowing them to see and manage the information that Facebook collects from other websites and apps. When you use the tool to clear your off-Facebook activity, Facebook will remove your identifying information from the data that apps and websites send to the platform. This means that Facebook will no longer know which websites you visited or what you did there, and it will not use this data to target ads to you on Facebook, Instagram, or Messenger.
For example, if you frequently visit a particular online store, Facebook might previously have used this information to show you ads related to that store or similar products. With the Clear History tool, you can choose to disconnect this data, preventing Facebook from using it for ad targeting purposes. This gives users more control over their online privacy and helps to address concerns about how their data is being used.
Impact on Facebook’s Business Model
While the Clear History tool is a significant step forward for user privacy, it could have some impact on Facebook’s business model. Facebook’s advertising platform relies heavily on data collected from users’ online activities to deliver targeted ads. By giving users the option to clear their off-Facebook activity, Facebook may see a reduction in the effectiveness of its ad targeting, which could potentially impact its advertising revenue.
However, Facebook has stated that it believes giving people control over their data is more important than the potential impact on its business. This move aligns with broader trends in the tech industry, where companies are increasingly prioritizing user privacy and data protection in response to growing public and regulatory scrutiny.
Future Developments and User Reactions
As the Clear History tool continues to roll out to more countries, it will be interesting to see how users react and whether they take advantage of the new privacy controls. Facebook will likely gather feedback from users and make further improvements to the tool based on their experiences. Additionally, other tech companies may follow Facebook’s lead and introduce similar privacy features to give users more control over their data.
The Clear History tool represents a significant step forward in giving users more control over their online privacy. By allowing users to see and manage the data collected from their off-Facebook activities, Facebook is addressing long-standing concerns about data privacy and ad targeting. While the tool may have some impact on Facebook’s business model, the company believes that prioritizing user privacy is the right move for the future. As the tool continues to roll out globally, it will be important to monitor its impact and the broader implications for the tech industry.
Source Facebook
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