Facebook may open info floodgates to developers

Facebook is set to announce a new initiative that will give developers unprecedented levels of information to build games and other such services upon.

The group is expected to announce on Monday measures that will open core parts of its site, such as information that steams onto users’ homepages, to third-party developers for them to build software on.

It means that developers could, with user permission, access the photos, videos, notes and comments in order to create more topical and personalised applications. It is thought that this data can be pooled using an open technology standard that other websites can use. It is expected that Facebook will not charge developers for access.

The plans are set to surface at a developer event on Monday in Palo Alto, California, where the social networking giant is headquartered.

Facebook has not confirmed the deal – first reported by the Wall Street Journal – yet said it is preparing an announcement in regards to developer opportunities. If the rumoured initiative is confirmed, it will mean a big change for the social-networking site that has hitherto made tight, restrictive controls on how developers can access its data.