Facebook to become 'privacy-focused platform': Zuckerberg

SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook is shifting to become "a privacy-focused messaging and social networking platform," chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said Wednesday as he outlined a broad vision for transforming the social networking giant.

Zuckerberg said on his Facebook page it would be less of "the digital equivalent of a town square" because "people increasingly also want to connect privately in the digital equivalent of the living room."

The announcement suggests a new emphasis for Facebook as it seeks to navigate a crisis over privacy and data protection amid revelations on how it handles personal user data.