Facebook placates Europe for now

In a bid to keep the European Commission off its back social media giant Facebook is admitting to its users that they’re the product.

Despite this being the media business model since the first newspapers were printed, the EC seems to think making Facebook spell out its business model represents some kind of progress. Those few users that even care will now be able to find some kind ‘digital media for dummies’ guide buried somewhere in their Facebook details. This is probably a product of all the faux outrage expressed when it was revealed that politicians can use Facebook for targeted advertising before elections.

This thrilling new section of Facebook will also clarify the nature of the implicit contract users enter into with Facebook when they post stuff, as well as clarify the rules for removing posts and suspending accounts. Facebook has vowed to be a bit more reasonable when it comes to unilaterally changing its Ts and Cs, and to admit its liabilities when it comes to things like Cambridge Analytica.

“Today Facebook finally shows commitment to more transparency and straight forward language in its terms of use,” said Commissioner Vera Jourová. “A company that wants to restore consumers trust after the Facebook/ Cambridge Analytica scandal should not hide behind complicated, legalistic jargon on how it is making billions on people’s data. Now, users will clearly understand that their data is used by the social network to sell targeted ads. By joining forces, the consumer authorities and the European Commission, stand up for the rights of EU consumers.”

If this is all Facebook has to do to get the EC off its back then Mark Zuckerberg must be laughing himself sick right now, pausing only to sign off a massive pay rise for Nick Clegg. Companies like Google and Microsoft have probably already written to the EC, asking why they weren’t given the ‘publish some clarifications’ option before getting fined into next week. While this seems to have temporarily placated the EC, Facebook’s minimal gesture seems useless to its users.