Facebook's Irish users to trial data transfer service

Today, we're releasing a tool that will enable Facebook users to transfer their Facebook photos and videos directly to other services, starting with Google Photos.

Facebook's upcoming Google Photos export tool is the company's first tool built on the Data Transfer Project (DTP) framework.

Twitter's new privacy site, dubbed the "Twitter Privacy Centre" is part of the company's efforts to showcase its work on data protection and will also give users another route to access and download their data. All the data you transfer is encrypted and you'll have to enter your password before anything is moved, Facebook said.

The social giant posted a buff PR piece that says it is building on the decade-old project to allow users offloading of their information from Facebook, whether because they chose to close their account, or for backup purposes.

We are strong proponents of personal data portability and would love to see enhanced control over personal data online: your data is your commodity, and you should be in control of it.

"To foster that trust, people and online services need clear rules about what kinds of data should be portable and who is responsible for protecting that data as it moves to different services".

The pilot begins this week in Ireland (where Facebook has been under investigation for alleged violations of European Union data privacy law).

The company has also since gathered the views of interested parties around the world on the topic.

"That's why we're developing new products that take into account the feedback we've received and will help drive data portability policies forward by giving people and experts a tool to assess".