Facebook is rolling out a tool allowing users to track their
friends' movements on other websites.
Facebook Connect will allow users to log into partner websites
using their Facebook log-in, and see what their friends are doing
on these sites. The tool was
announced
in July and will be rolled out in the coming week.
The move could lead to controversy over privacy issues. The site
has been
quizzed in the past on its data protection and privacy
policies.
But
Facebook has insisted that it does respect users' privacy. The
benefit of the tool, it says, is that users will find it easier to
use other sites, and it will help to make the web a more social
experience.
In a statement, the company said, "Enabling users to take their
identity and friends with them around the web, while trusting that
their privacy is protected, makes the web more open and connected.
Facebook Connect allows users to bring their Facebook account
information, friends and privacy to any third-party website,
desktop application or device."
The company is likely to use the tool to gather more information
on what its users are interested in. It can use this to shape
advertising around what it thinks users want.