Mark Zuckerberg refuted a Reuters story yesterday that said Facebook would not bring Europe’s GDPR privacy protections around the world. “I think regulations like the GDPR are very positive” Zuckerberg said on a conference call with reporters. “We intend to make all the same controls available everywhere, not just in Europe.”
Zuckerberg noted that “Is it going to be exactly the same format? Probably not. We’ll need to figure out what makes sense in different markets with different laws in different places. But let me repeat this, we’re going to make all the same controls and settings available everywhere, not just in Europe.”
GDPR places requirements on data controllers, forcing them to explain to people what personal data they intend to collect and why. It’s focused around consent. Facebook has made its own moves to boost consent for ad targeting. TechCrunch reported that Facebook plans to implement a Custom Audiences Certification Tool that will require businesses to pledge that they had the consent to collect user email addresses and phone numbers that they’re uploading to Facebook for ad targeting.
Zuckerberg’s statements indicate that the progressive, privacy-first legislation passed in the European Union will benefit everyone around the world.
