Facebook ads could soon appear all over the web

The latest changes to Facebook's privacy policy have indicated that the website may begin placing adverts on third-party websites.

The policy was adapted to mention the possibility of using users' data for advertising on third-party websites last Friday. It is thought that the adverts would use data shared on Facebook to decide which products are most suitable to advertise to web users. 

In an interview with macworld.co.uk, Facebook's head of privacy policy, Erin Egan, insinuated that this may be the next step the website makes in its online marketing strategy.

She said: "We've always said in the data use policy that we may serve ads off Facebook and we may use that save information to serve you an add off Facebook."

Egan added that users may also see the reason why they were served the ad. For example, it might say "Andrew likes Coke" below an advert for Coca-Cola, as it often does on the Facebook website.  

The move arguably represents a giant step forward for Facebook in their bid to remain as the internet's most prominent advertisers.

However, web privacy expert Justin Brookman, from the Centre for Democracy and Technology, has warned that some consumers might not like the idea of their social media data appearing elsewhere on the web.

Speaking to mediapost.com, he said: "Facebook must be aware of the potential for backlash from consumers who don't want the company following them around the web using their communications to inform ads."