New Facebook tool lets you salvage your photos - making it easier to leave site

For many of us, sharing photos was one of the first reasons to use Facebook – and now the social network has made it easier to salvage those precious photos and, in turn, leave the site.

Facebook now allows users to transfer media directly to rival service Google Photos, meaning that users can close their account without losing data, according to Engineering and Technology.

The service was previously available in the US, but has now launched in Europe and other territories.

Read more: How to use Facebook’s new privacy settings

Previously, users had to download a bundle of data from Facebook, rather than being able to simply move their photos into another service.

It’s part of a move to improve “data portability” within the site.

Facebook’s Steve Satterfield, who runs the firm’s Privacy and Public Policy team, said, “At Facebook, we believe that if you share data with one service, you should be able to move it to another.

Read more: Australia sues Facebook over data breach

“That’s the principle of data portability, which gives people control and choice while also encouraging innovation.

“We’ve kept privacy and security as top priorities, so all data transferred will be encrypted and people will be asked to enter their password before a transfer is initiated.”

Users can salvage their photos by clicking on Settings and selecting ‘Your Facebook Information’ then ‘Transfer a copy of your photos or videos’.

Google Photos is one of these options.

Read more: Facebook Stories tests cross-posting to Instagram

Earlier this year, after years mired in privacy scandals, Facebook has suggested that it wants to work with governments on “new rules for the internet”.

The social media giant – which has been under fire over “fake news” and hate speech online – published a set of recommendations for online content regulation.

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg called for “good regulation” on social media companies.

The social giant firm published recommendations for future regulation, which suggest placing more accountability on companies to do content moderation.