Facebook plans to announce today that it is going to give its users the ability to see the dossiers of likes and interests it keeps on them, as well as the ability to change, add or delete information in those files.

The New York Times seems to think that Facebook’s move comes at the same time that the Federal Trade Commission and the White House have called on Congress to pass legislation that would better protect consumers’ private data, including requiring companies to give people more control over the digital files collected on them.

Most other big Internet companies, like Google and Yahoo, already allow consumers to see, change or block some of the personal attributes that they use to deliver ads.

If you don’t like an ad, you will be able to tell the social network what types of marketing messages you would rather see.

Every ad will have a tiny arrow in the right corner as seen below. If you click on that, then choose “Why am I seeing this?” Facebook will tell you the most important attribute about you that led it to show the ad.



You should see this change sometime today.

Update: It is now live @ https://www.facebook.com/help/585318558251813?ref=notif¬if_t=oba