Facebook Creates Director of Privacy

Facebook has created a new position to deal with all of its privacy problems -- a new director of privacy.

Facebook announced that it hired Erin Egan, a privacy and data security expert and a law partner with Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C., to become the social network's first ever director of privacy. According to Forbes:

Egan has previously helped corporate clients out with assessing their privacy practices and responding to data breaches, as well as “handling government requests for customer information.”

Facebook has spent the last two years dealing with its controversial and seemingly ever-changing privacy policy. First, Facebook was going to give out user phone numbers and addresses to any third-party developer (and advertiser) who wanted them, then it backtracked but not before Congress suggested investigating the matter further. In June, the social network came under fire for its automatic facial recognition which tagged subjects in any Facebook photos.

It seems to us that some of the duties of  the new privacy director position will be bailing Facebook out of trouble and keeping abreast of the latest data privacy laws.

In addition to Egan, Facebook also made two other hires: Louisa Terrell, a former special assistant to Obama in legislative affairs, will become the social network's director of public policy; and Erika Mann, a former member of the European Parliament, will be its new lead spokeswoman for European Union institutions in its Brussels office, the Washington Post reported.

Contact Us