Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) has updated its privacy policy with a simpler and less legalese format in what the company says is aimed at clarifying how it uses data. The change, which is partly prompted by the upcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules and regulations in European Union is geared at making company’s policies much easier to understand. Although the rules will only be applicable in the EU, the company has announced that its privacy settings as well as privacy policy update will be applicable throughout the world.
In a blog post, Damien Kieran, the company’s data protection officer said the main purpose why Twitter was formed is to keep people around the world informed. He added that the company is always working hard to improve the experience of its users when tweeting or seeing tweets around the world. Kieran said that Twitter has the obligation to protect and safeguard its users’ data and privacy.
Twitter says the new policy is meant to make the language simple to understand by users. As part of the plan to make the language much easier to understand is having highlighted phrases with hover-over definitions.
The new policy has been redesigned so as to incorporate a number of sections and have a navigation section on the left of every section which allows one to look for specific topics. The design has been optimized for both mobile and desktop browsers.
Twitter has invited users to give comments and ask questions regarding the new policy and there is a section for contact inside the policy. The company has included contact information for users in the US who are not required to be helped under the GDPR’s mandated data protection officer. The new policy also contains links leading to related privacy tools directly inside the document.
The updated policy will become effective on May 25, which is the day when the GDPR regulation will become effective. Users throughout the world will be allowed the same access and will see the same privacy policy. However, those in the EU will see a pop-up when these new policies become effective and will also be required to review the current privacy settings.
