Facebook unveils new privacy options

Facebook will offer a single page from which privacy settings can be applied

Social networking giant Facebook is planning to overhaul its privacy controls once again.

Chief privacy officer Chris Kelly said in a blog post that the new options are designed to simplify management, while giving users greater control over the information that is shared with others.

"The power to share is the cornerstone of Facebook," wrote Kelly. "Privacy, and the tools for tailoring what information is shared with whom, are at the heart of trust."

Facebook is offering users a single page from which privacy settings can be applied, and is planning to integrate a single drop-down menu for posted items which will allow users to set access rules on the individual items.

Privacy settings have long been a point of contention between Facebook and its user base. The company set off an outcry in 2007 when it unveiled the controversial Beacon advertising tool, and was forced to backpedal on its terms and conditions in February.

The social networking site has also been a hot-button issue in the enterprise IT field. While administrators and managers worry about the productivity risks of Facebook and other networking services, users also run the risk of embarrassing photos or postings being spotted by current or perspective employers.