Audit Of Facebook Ireland Published

The Irish Data Protection Minister has found a "positive approach" of its audit of Facebook Ireland (FB-I) which was conducted over the last three months.

Commissioner Billy Hawkes said: "Arising from the audit, FB-I has agreed to a wide range of best practice improvements to be implemented over the next 6 months, with a formal review of progress to take place in July of next year."

Deputy Commissioner, Gary Davis who led the conduct of the Audit stated that "this Audit was the most comprehensive and detailed ever undertaken by our Office. We set ourselves a very ambitious target for completion and publication as both this Office and Facebook, felt it was important that the outcome be published and opened to public comment and scrutiny."

He added: "It is important to recognise that Facebook Ireland, as recently as September 2010, was designated responsibility for all users outside of the USA and Canada. It perhaps should not come as a surprise therefore that there should be room for improvement in how Facebook Ireland handles the personal information of users."

Facebook Ireland's delivery on its commitments will be evaluated throughout the first six months of 2012 and as part of an agreed formal review in July of next year that will take the form of a follow-up Audit.

(CD/GK)