Facebook will stop collecting web browser data for users who opt out


Facebook users will soon be able to opt out of the platform's browser data collection, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Tuesday.
Facebook gathers users' web browsing history — information that the company then uses to sell targeted ads — but an upcoming feature will allow users to delete the data and decline to allow Facebook to collect it again, reports Recode.
Facebook's data collection methods were heavily criticized after a third-party data firm, Cambridge Analytica, improperly used user data for political ads. The "clear history" feature is one of the first major updates to the platform since the scandal. The platform has made changes to its privacy policies, but has not yet allowed users to restrict the amount of data Facebook collects.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
At Tuesday's annual developer conference, Zuckerberg also announced that Facebook would be introducing a series of features to make the platform more conducive to dating. The features, intended to aid in "building real long-term relationships — not just hook-ups," will allow users who aren't friends on Facebook to contact one another through separate, dating-centric profiles. Read more at Recode.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Amazon launches 1st Kuiper internet satellites
Speed Read The battle of billionaires continues in space
-
Test flight of orbital rocket from Europe explodes
Speed Read Isar Aerospace conducted the first test flight of the Spectrum orbital rocket, which crashed after takeoff
-
Apple pledges $500B in US spending over 4 years
Speed Read This is a win for Trump, who has pushed to move manufacturing back to the US
-
Microsoft unveils quantum computing breakthrough
Speed Read Researchers say this advance could lead to faster and more powerful computers
-
TikTok's fate uncertain as weekend deadline looms
Speed Read The popular app is set to be banned in the U.S. starting Sunday
-
Appeals court kills FCC net neutrality rule
Speed Read A U.S. appeals court blocked Biden's effort to restore net-neutrality rules
-
Judge rejects Elon Musk's $56B pay package again
Speed Read Judge Kathaleen McCormick upheld her rejection of the Tesla CEO's unprecedented compensation deal
-
DOJ seeks breakup of Google, Chrome
Speed Read The Justice Department aims to force Google to sell off Chrome and make other changes to rectify its illegal search monopoly