The world's largest social network is, like many other tech companies that deal in user data, worried about the effects of proposed changes to federal privacy rules, and believes they may be unconstitutional.
The Federal Trade Commission has been working to increase protections for those under the age of 13 when they put their personal information online through new rules under the Children's Online
Privacy Protection Act, but Facebook believes these changes present myriad problems.
Among these are concerns are that by restricting younger children from accessing the site, older users might have greater difficulty in sharing information as well,
the company said in a letter to the FTC.
"Because the Commission’s proposal would restrict the ability of users who are 13 years old or older to 'Like,' comment on, or recommend the websites or services on which those plugins are integrated, it would infringe upon their constitutionally protected right to engage in protected speech," Facebook said.
Eduard Goodman, the chief privacy officer for
Identity Theft 911, has a blog about the ways in which social network users of all ages can increase their protection.
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