The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reached a settlement with Facebook whereby the social media giant must submit to a privacy audit every two years, and cannot share its users information without their consent.

Facebook must provide “clear and prominent notice” any time they release users’ information, and must first obtain consent. This opt-in requirement is a huge step in the right direction, and one that privacy advocates have been pushing for.

The settlement was first announced in November, but it was finalized today in order to allow the public time to react and comment. Under the terms reached in the settlement, Facebook could be subject to a $16,000 fine for every violation of the agreement. (mere pocket change for Facebook!)

The FTC began investigating Facebook in 2009 after several watchdog groups called out the site and filed complaints. Facebook was accused of making users information public that was on the site under privacy settings. The site also had allowed third party apps to access its users’ private information. In addition, Facebook was charged with being dishonest about the information it shared with its advertisers and the ultimate location of photos and videos deleted from the site, which were not entirely deleted after all.

The FTC backed the settlement in a 3-1-1 vote, with xcommissioner Thomas Rosch dissenting. He expressed concerns that the settlement would not require Facebook to admit liability, though the three commissioners who backed the settlement believe that it made Facebook’s liability evident.

Recommended Resources

BitDefender Safego is a Facebook application you can install that will scan your News Feed and help keep you safe from scams on Facebook.

PRIVATE WiFi® is a Personal VPN that encrypts everything you send and receive. Don’t access Facebook from a public WiFi hotspot without it.

Do Not Track + is a FREE browser plugin created by Abine. This easy to install plugin keeps websites from tracking you. If you value your online privacy, then you should definitely take advantage of this free product.

Action Alert | Free Parental Control offers a 100% free Internet safety solution designed for parents. There is also a Maximum Protection option for parents that need a more advanced set of tools.