Facebook is testing a new tool that will make it easier for users to move their images and photos to other platforms, according to a report on SFGate. Facebook has come under increasing scrutiny by lawmakers and regulators for how it handles user data.
According to the report, “U.S. and European regulators have been examining Facebook’s control of personal data such as images as they look into whether the tech giant’s dominance is stifling competition and limiting choice for consumers. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reacted by calling for new rules to address ‘data portability’ and other issues.
“Facebook said that as it worked on a new set of data portability tools, it had discussions with policymakers, regulators, and academics in the U.K., Germany, Brazil and Singapore to learn about which data should be portable and how to protect privacy.”
The new tool will allow users to migrate data to Google Photos first, with other services to come later. The tool will be available in Ireland first, tweaked based on feedback and then rolled out to users worldwide in the first half of 2020.