LONDON : Facebook started testing a tool
on Monday that lets users move their images more easily to other online
services, as it faces pressure from regulators to loosen its grip on data.
The social
network's new tool will allow people to transfer their photos and videos
directly to competing platforms, starting with Google Photos.
The company said
it will first be available to people in Ireland and will be refined based on
user feedback.
The tool will
then be rolled out worldwide in the first half of 2020.
US and European
regulators have been examining Facebook's control of personal data such as
images as they look into whether the tech giant's dominance is stifling
competition and limiting choice for consumers.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reacted by calling for new rules to address
"data portability" and other issues.
Facebook said
that as it worked on a new set of data portability tools, it had discussions
with policymakers, regulators, and academics in the UK, Germany, Brazil and
Singapore to learn about which data should be portable and how to protect
privacy.
The company is
developing products that "take into account the feedback we've received
and will help drive data portability policies forward by giving people and
experts a tool to assess," Steve Satterfield, director of privacy and
public policy, said in a blog post. (AP) IND
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