Facebook: Lawmakers aired 'legitimate' concerns, but most users like changes

Top Facebook officials on Wednesday admitted Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) had aired "absolutely legitimate questions and concerns" during a recent meeting about the site's features that share user data with select websites and advertisers. However, representatives from the 400-million strong social network later stressed that negative reaction to those new tools on Capitol Hill differed markedly from the opinion of "the vast majority of users," who Facebook said, "appreciate these innovations." "That's why we're really pleased following the announcement we made last week... at the response that people have had," said Elliot Schrage, Facebook's vice president of Global Communications, Marketing and Public Policy. "Because while a lot of people in Washington may be focused on the concerns people have, the response across the Web has been that more people are more engaged..." "And candidly, the fact that users... consistently spend more time on Facebook and related services makes us feel like what we're doing is working in the right direction," Schrage added.