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Facebook recently introduced a new tool aimed at giving users greater control over their personal data. But is it truly a remedy for privacy concerns, or just another layer of complexity in the tech giant’s data collection practices? Let’s break it down.
What is Facebook new privacy tool?
The new tool from Facebook promises users more transparency about how their data is collected and used. For the first time, Facebook claims it will let users see the types of data collected about them and the websites sharing this information with the platform. This transparency is designed to provide a clearer picture of how user data flows from third-party websites to Facebook, and eventually, to advertisers.
But here’s the catch: you don’t need to have a Facebook account for your data to be tracked and used. Facebook has long had mechanisms to collect data from individuals across the web, often without their explicit knowledge.
How much control do you really have over data collected by Facebook?
Sadly, not much.
One of the main promises of this tool is the ability to “disconnect” your personal details—like your name and contact information—from the data Facebook collects. While this might sound reassuring, it’s far from a complete solution. Facebook has made it clear that even if users opt out, the company will continue to collect and store their data. The only change is that the data is no longer tied directly to your name.
For example, if you tell Facebook to stop sharing your personal data with third-party websites, Facebook won’t completely stop collecting the data. Instead, it will anonymize the information. But what happens to the data that was already collected? Can it be reconnected to your profile later? These are the questions that remain unanswered.
Can you opt in or opt out of Facebook data collection?
Technically yes. However, Facebook’s claim that it will retain user data for 48 hours even after opting out has sparked significant criticism. The rationale for this delay remains vague, leaving users questioning its necessity. If a user has explicitly chosen to opt out, why should there be any grace period before their data is fully removed? This seemingly minor delay exposes larger issues about Facebook’s approach to privacy and its commitment to respecting user decisions.
Facebook might argue that the 48-hour retention period is necessary for technical reasons, such as processing the opt-out request across its vast network of servers. However, this explanation does not hold up under scrutiny. Modern data processing technologies are capable of instantaneously updating databases and executing user commands, especially for a company of Facebook’s scale and resources.
Instead, critics suggest this delay could be a deliberate attempt to buy Facebook more time to continue profiting from user data. Advertisers and other third parties might still have access to data during this period, allowing Facebook to maximize its value from the information before finally anonymizing or disconnecting it from the user.
What happens to your data after you decide to leave Facebook?
When you delete your Facebook account, you might expect all your data to be permanently erased. However, Facebook’s terms make it clear that deleting an account doesn’t necessarily mean deleting all your information. For instance, some data, such as messages you’ve sent to others, may remain accessible on their accounts. Additionally, Facebook states that it may retain certain data for legal, security, or operational reasons.
This lack of transparency leaves users in the dark about what, exactly, is being retained and for how long. Does Facebook hold onto personal data indefinitely? Are they simply anonymizing it, or is it stored in an archive that could later be reconnected to you? Without clear answers, it’s impossible for users to feel confident that their information is truly gone.
Perhaps even more troubling is the possibility of account reactivation. Facebook has the ability to reactivate a deactivated or deleted account under certain circumstances. This reactivation might occur if you log back into the platform, even unintentionally, or if you use a service linked to your Facebook credentials.
When an account is reactivated, Facebook often restores all the associated data—photos, posts, interactions, and personal details—that were supposedly “deleted.” This means that the data you thought was gone can resurface, creating a false sense of security for users who believe they have permanently cut ties with the platform.
Even if Facebook were to delete your account data completely, it doesn’t solve the issue of third-party data sharing. Over the years, Facebook has shared user data with advertisers, developers, and business partners. Once this information leaves Facebook’s servers, it becomes virtually impossible to track or delete.
For example, advertisers may have already integrated your data into their own systems, using it to build detailed profiles for targeted marketing. Similarly, app developers who accessed your information through Facebook’s APIs may still hold onto that data, with no obligation to delete it if you close your Facebook account.
This creates a ripple effect where your data lives on, circulating in ecosystems far beyond your control.
You would be surprised to learn how much information Facebook has about you. The number and the nature of the website or apps that send data to Facebook might astonish you. You might have visited some of those websites by accident, clicked on an advert that sent you there or someone might have used your device to access those apps.