Facebook to simplify privacy controls amid growing user unease

Facebook to simplify privacy controls

NEW YORK — Facebook is simplifying its privacy controls.

The changes come amid complaints about recently announced features, including “instant personalization” that tailors other websites to users’ Facebook profiles. Protesters have been organizing campaigns to quit Facebook and privacy groups have complained to regulators.

One complaint has been over the fact that while Facebook allows users to hide their list of interests on their personal profile pages, the user would still show up elsewhere as “liking” that band, company or hobby. The new privacy settings will be extending to those other places as well.

In a news conference Wednesday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company is also making it easier for users to decline the instant personalization feature.

It’s not yet clear whether the latest changes will quell user unease.