Facebook Moves buy prompts questions over privacy policy

Facebook says the app's terms were updated to allow the company's staff to work at improving the program.

Facebook's decision to update the privacy policy and terms and conditions on its recently acquired Moves app is not egregious, despite concerns to the contrary, according to the company.

In a Guardian story published Wednesday, a Facebook spokesman said the social network modified Moves' terms and conditions so its team could work on, and improve, the program. That followed outcry from users who noticed that the changes allowed certain data from Moves to be shared with Facebook. In the minds of critics, that violated a commitment made by the Moves team saying it would not "commingle data" with the social network.

Facebook acquired Moves late last month. The app keeps track of a user's daily fitness routine, as well as the places they visit. The free app is available on iOS and Android, and users were concerned that its function of sharing location could give Facebook too much information on those who use both its social network and the app.

Speaking to The Guardian, the Facebook spokesman said there is a clear distinction between commingling data and sharing data with its team. The spokesman reiterated that Moves will remain a standalone app away from Facebook and that user data will remain separate.

Privacy has become an oft-desired but hardly attainable component in the average Web user's daily life. More and more, users are being tracked on the Web, they're sharing information about their lives, and more than ever, people and companies across the world can glean important data to use for their benefit. Users seemed concerned that Facebook would be using Moves to do the same.