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      NEW YORK (AP) - Facebook is simplifying its privacy controls
amid growing unrest from many of its users.


      Protesters have been organizing campaigns to quit Facebook and
privacy groups have complained to regulators after Facebook
announced new features last month, including "instant
personalization" that tailors other websites to users' Facebook
profiles.


      "A lot of people are upset with us," Facebook CEO Mark
Zuckerberg acknowledged at a news conference Wednesday.


      One complaint has been over the fact that while Facebook allows
users to hide their list of interests on their personal profile
pages, the user would still show up elsewhere as "liking" that
band, company or hobby. Zuckerberg said that under the simplified
controls, privacy preferences will be extending to those other
places as well.


      Zuckerberg said the company is also making it easier for users
to decline the instant personalization feature.


      He said that as Facebook offered more granularity in its privacy
choices, the settings have become too complex for many users. He
said Facebook is trying to simplify the controls - and making them
apply retroactively and to new services that have yet to launch.


      Facebook said the changes will be rolled out in the coming
weeks. It's not yet clear whether the latest changes will quell
user unease. Facebook hopes they do.


      "One of the big takeaways is just don't mess with the privacy
stuff for a long time," Zuckerberg said.


      In a statement, the Center for Democracy and Technology, a
Washington-based advocacy group, said that "while more work still
needs to be done, these changes are the building blocks for giving
people what they want and deserve."

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Facebook is simplifying its privacy controls
amid growing unrest from many of its users.

Facebook to simplify privacy controls amid unrest

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