Facebook to introduce Clear History privacy tool in coming months

Facebook is developing the feature in response to an outcry about data collection and privacy on its sites

Facebook Inc. is going to let users see which websites and apps send the social network data on their activity — and then give them the option to delete it, with a new “clear history” tool.

The Menlo Park, California-based company is developing the feature in response to an outcry about data collection and privacy on its sites, following revelations that an outside developer improperly handled personal information on tens of millions of users. The crisis has spawned questions from lawmakers and privacy advocates about who owns the data that users share on Facebook, and the company has taken other steps to address the concerns, including pausing some developer tools and auditing apps on its platform.

“The past several weeks have made clear that people want more information about how Facebook works and the controls they have over their information," Chief Privacy Officer Erin Egan wrote in a blog post on Tuesday, just as the company kicked off its F8 annual developer conference. “If you clear your history or use the new setting, we’ll remove identifying information so a history of the websites and apps you’ve used won’t be associated with your account.”

It will take months to build the new Clear History feature, Egan wrote, adding that the company will work with privacy advocates, academics, policy makers and regulators for input on how to remove personal information.

Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said he learned, while testifying in front of Congress last month, that he didn’t have clear enough answers to questions about data and Facebook should offer users this kind of option to control their information. 

Zuckerberg risks a night at Big Ben

Facebook Inc. Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg has been asked again to appear before British lawmakers, or risk a formal summons. If he refuses that, Parliament could demand Zuckerberg spend the night in the clock tower.The penalties for holding Parliament in contempt vary. Technically — though very unlikely — the House of Commons could call Zuckerberg to appear before them and berate him for his behavior. Zuckerberg may be issued with a fine, although this penalty hasn’t been used since 1666. As a last resort, lawmakers could threaten to send him to the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster — more commonly known as Big Ben — a resort not used since 1880.