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Many users resented Facebook grabbing and sharing data<\/p>\n
When Facebook users shopped online, Beacon told friends and businesses what they looked at or bought.<\/p>\n Many considered the data sharing to be an intrusion that exposed them to more scrutiny than was comfortable. <\/p>\n Privacy please<\/strong><\/p>\n In response to the demands, Facebook’s 55 million members will have more control over whether data about what they do online is used for Beacon.<\/p>\n Before the changes, Beacon was an “opt out” system and many complained that they missed the chance to avoid using it when it was introduced in early November.<\/p>\n Now Beacon will be an “opt in” system that only tracks data if explicit permission is granted to Facebook to do so.<\/p>\n More than 40 websites, including Fandango.com, Overstock.com and Blockbuster, signed up to use Beacon software on their webpages and report what Facebook users did when they visited.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Beacon embarrassed many doing Christmas shopping online<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n Activist site MoveOn was at the forefront of protests against Beacon and set up the petition to gather signatures on 20 November.<\/p>\n “It also says a lot about the ability of internet users to band together to make a difference,” said Adam Green, a spokesman for MoveOn.<\/p>\n Facebook apologised for its actions via a letter on its website.<\/p>\n “We’re sorry if we spoiled some of your holiday gift-giving plans,” read the letter. “We are really trying to provide you with new meaningful ways, like Beacon, to help you connect and share information with your friends.”<\/p>\n Industry commentator Om Malik said Facebook users had to be certain to opt out completely from Beacon otherwise Facebook would still collect data from partner sites – even if that data was not shared more widely.<\/p>\n The changes to Beacon may not be the last that Facebook has to make to the technology.<\/p>\n Two rights groups, the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the Center for Digital Democracy, are believed to be compiling a complaint to the US Federal Trade Commission about it.<\/p>\n
Facebook members have forced the social networking site to change the way a controversial ad system worked.<\/strong>More than 50,000 Facebook users signed a petition calling on the company to alter or abandon its Beacon advertising technology.<\/p>\n\n
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