Late last year, Facebook launched a new feature that allows users to transfer their photos and videos directly to Google Photos. The tool was first rolled out in Ireland, and today Reuters reports that the social media giant is expanding that capability to the U.S. and Canada (via Reuters).
You can access the new feature by going to your Facebook settings and then opening “Your Facebook Information", a tab where you can also download your private information. Then, you will see an option to move your photos and videos to Google Photos. Keep in mind that you will need to link your Facebook and Google accounts to initiate the transfer.
The new tool is part of the Data Transfer Project announced in 2018 to help users move their data between online services more easily. In addition to Facebook and Google, other members of that initiative are Microsoft, Apple, and Twitter.
Prior to today"s launch, the tool was already introduced in Europe and Latin America. The U.S. rollout is obviously part of Facebook"s efforts to give users more control over the handling of their data. Facebook’s Director of Privacy and Public Policy Steve Satterfield told Reuters that, in the future, the company also wants to allow users to port other pieces of information including their contacts and friend lists to another platform without compromising their privacy.