Facebook's clear history tool doesn’t clear anything – and there’s nothing you can do about it

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Facebook's clear history tool doesn’t clear anything – and there’s nothing you can do about it
FILE - In this May 1, 2018, file photo, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivers the keynote speech at F8, Facebook's developer conference, in San Jose, Calif. Federal regulators are fining Facebook $5 billion for privacy violations and instituting new oversight and restrictions on its business. But they are only holding Zuckerberg personally responsible in a limited fashion. AP/PTIAP/PTI
  • The Off-Facebook Activity tool allows users to clear their history, but Facebook doesn’t actually clear the data.
  • Facebook says that this tool gives users more control over their privacy, but all it does is separate on-Facebook data from off-Facebook data.
  • Facebook also notes that users will continue to see the same number of ads.
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On Data Privacy Day on January 28, Facebook had announced that it is giving its users more control over their privacy. However, the claims ring hollow when you actually see what this new Facebook clear history tool does – or doesn’t.

While making the announcement, Mark Zuckerberg had claimed, “Over the next few weeks, we’ll show nearly two billion people around the world a prompt encouraging them to review their privacy settings.”

He also announced the launch of a new tool called ‘Off-Facebook Activity’. This tool basically allows you to manage the data that other websites and apps have collected on you and sent to Facebook.

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Facebook’s clear history tool gives you more control over your data, but there’s a catch
Facebook's clear history tool doesn’t clear anything – and there’s nothing you can do about it


Facebook says that you can use the ‘clear history’ tool to check a summary of this data. You can also clear this data from your account if you wish to, giving you more control over your own information.

However, there is a catch. Even after clearing this data, it doesn’t get deleted from Facebook’s servers. Facebook claims that this tool “marks a new level of transparency and control”. But, that is far from the whole truth as you still don’t have any control over your own data.
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In reality, all that you can do is disconnect your Facebook activity from your non-Facebook activity.

This is what Facebook says when you select the clear history option. “Your activity history will be disconnected from your account. We’ll continue to receive your activity from the businesses and organizations you visit in the future.” The statement itself suggests that data is still stored somewhere.

Facebook builds your profile even if you don’t have a Facebook account

The world’s most popular social media network has graver allegations flying around. It reportedly builds shadow profiles of people who visit a website or uses an app that has Facebook’s trackers installed. This data is then used to serve targeted advertising on Facebook, those websites and the apps that you use.

Users continue to see the same number of ads even after clearing your history. That itself says enough about how ineffective this new feature is.

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See also:

An influential senator thinks Mark Zuckerberg should be 'held personally accountable' for Facebook's privacy problems, including 'the possibility of a prison term'

Instagram shows that Facebook's privacy problems didn't end with Cambridge Analytica

A new Facebook privacy flaw allowed thousands of children on Messenger Kids to enter group chats with strangers
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