Facebook plans to push new privacy tools for Europe

In the wake of European data protection laws which are getting tougher for tech companies, Facebook is planning to give more control to the users, before the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) takes effect this spring.

According to the GDPR which will go effective in May, European users will have more control over how the companies use their data and information. The companies which would fail to comply new regulations would face serious consequences, up to 4% of their annual revenue could be fined.

According to COO Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg, “We are rolling out our new privacy center globally that will put the core privacy settings for Facebook in one place, it would make it easier for the users to manage their data.” The COO said this while talking to Reuters during the event in Brussels on Tuesday.

Facebook has a history of complicated relationships with not only users but also the governments, data access request by various governments globally had been turned down by Facebook consistently,  Facebook has also faced a series of lawsuits over user data. Facebook’s product WhatsApp was in trouble for breaching user data protection in France last year December.

The new EU law will impose stronger rules on the tech companies in order to protect user’s data. The rules would define the processing and storing of personal data, the companies would require explicit consent before using personal data of their users. Companies must also provide the copy of their personal data which is stored on the company’s server. The companies are also required to report data breaches within 72 hours to the concerned authorities.

“We have a very good foundation of meeting the requirements of GDPR and we are focused to provide protection and control to the users and will continue to protect privacy.” Said, Sandberg.

The new law is not only for tech companies, other companies which store huge personal data e.g. healthcare, banks, insurers are also affected by this law.