Facebook Privacy Morass Spawns Third-Party Tool

privacyFacebook's complex privacy settings have spurred a software developer to release a new program aimed at helping users restrict their data from inadvertent leakage.

The free tool, available from ReclaimPrivacy.org, allows users to view and revise key privacy settings from a streamlined dashboard on their Facebook home pages. The program scans users' settings and then tells them whether they are sharing certain information themselves or are allowing their information to be shared by their Facebook friends. The tool also advises users about how to change their settings to lock down data about them.

Creator Matt Pizzimenti says he created the feature in his spare time after family members complained that Facebook's settings were too complicated. "I wanted an easy way for them to ensure their privacy is what they expect," says Pizzimenti, who cofounded Olark, which enables sites to live chat with customers.

Indeed, several observers have publicly questioned whether Facebook's privacy settings are too complex. Last week, for instance, The New York Times reported that opting out of information sharing required clicking more than 50 privacy buttons.

Pizzimenti's tool was unveiled to the public in a Monday morning Lifehacker post. By midday it had been shared on Facebook more than 15,000 times, Pizzimenti says.

Traffic surged so quickly that he had to arrange to pay for extra bandwidth, he says. While the program -- which has its own Facebook page -- is available for free, Pizzimenti is soliciting donations. So far, he has raised enough money to cover the extra bandwidth fees. "I'm hoping that the donations will cover some future hosting too," he says.

Facebook has not yet responded to Online Media Daily's questions about the tool.

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