Facebook has today launched a photo portability tool that will enable its users to share images directly to Google’s photo storage service – Google Photos. The new tool relies on an encrypted transfer protocol that ensures the media files are shared securely between the two services, according to the company. The service is currently only available in Ireland, home to Facebook’s international HQ.
As per now, the service is under testing but the company says it will be launching the tool globally by the first half of 2020.
Facebook’s new tool is said to be created based on the code developed by the Data Transfer Project.
A quick primer, the Data Transfer Project started in 2018 and was formed by five tech giants including Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter who committed to build “a common framework with open-source code that can connect any two online service providers, enabling a seamless, direct, user initiated portability of data between the two platforms.”
Although the Facebook tool only supports Google Photos as per now, the company suggests it will be possible to import photos to other photo storage services in the future. When the tool is available globally you will be able to import your Facebook photos to Google photos by going to the Facebook Settings menu under ‘Your Information’.
“At Facebook, we believe that if you share data with one service, you should be able to move it to another. That’s the principle of data portability, which gives people control and choice while also encouraging innovation,” wrote Steve Satterfield, Director of Privacy and Public Policy at Facebook, in a blog post announcing the feature.
“Today, we’re releasing a tool that will enable Facebook users to transfer their Facebook photos and videos directly to other services, starting with Google Photos,” he added.