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Facebook has started asking users to go through their settings and make sure they're happy with the amount of data they are handing over.
That's thanks to a new European law called the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, which comes into effect on May 25.
That law makes it much harder for companies like Facebook and Google to collect and make money from your data — especially without your explicit consent.
It also means Facebook can't access sensitive information like your sexual preferences, religious beliefs, and political beliefs without your proactive consent.
Now Facebook has to make sure you look at your settings before May 25 — or risk being fined 4% of its annual turnover, which represents billions of dollars.
Here's how to navigate those new settings and keep your data private.
1. If you use Facebook in Europe, you will probably see this notification pop up. It's hard to miss.Shona Ghosh/Business Insider2. The notification looks dry as dust — but there's one big update Facebook is trying to push on European users: Facial recognition.Shona Ghosh/Business Insider
Facebook's ability to recognise people's faces in photos to make tagging easier hasn't been available in Europe since 2012. Now it's introducing facial recognition by stealth, according to critics.
But more on that later.
3. First, Facebook will ask you about 'specially protected data.' This refers to your political views, your sexual orientation, and your religion — which you might have shared with Facebook when you first created your profile.Shona Ghosh/Business Insider
4. Facebook doesn't tell you this explicitly, but it can target ads at you based on your religion.Shona Ghosh/Business Insider
5. Hit 'Manage Data Settings' if you aren't happy with Facebook knowing your religion, political views, or sexual preferences.Shona Ghosh/Business Insider
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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SEE ALSO: Facebook will soon ask if you really do want to share whether you're gay or straight online
