FTC Study Exposes ‘Extensive Surveillance’ by Social Media Platforms
This also applies to children and teenagers. Have you considered their specific needs?
Massive Social Media Surveillance Unveiled by the FTC
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States has released findings from a four-year investigation, revealing that numerous social media sites and streaming services engage in “extensive consumer surveillance” to monetize personal information.
Indefinite Data Collection and Sharing
According to the FTC, these entities collect and indefinitely retain vast amounts of data. Additionally, they engage in “widespread data sharing” with security measures considered “grossly inadequate”. The study also exposed that some companies fail to delete user data upon request and employ intrusive technologies like tracking pixels to “enhance advertising based on user preferences and interests”.
Lack of User Protection and Data Exploitation
The report highlights a significant lack of options for users (and non-users) to opt out of data usage by automated systems such as algorithms, data analytics, and AI. The FTC found that these companies adopt “varied, inconsistent, and insufficient approaches to monitor and test” the usage of these automated systems.
Call for Stronger Legislation to Protect Data
The FTC criticizes the failure of self-regulation and calls for more comprehensive legislation to reduce surveillance and provide “basic protections”. It also urges these companies to limit data collection and sharing with third parties. Furthermore, the FTC recommends that companies should truly delete consumer data when no longer needed or upon request, cease using invasive ad tracking technologies like pixels, and urges Congress to pass federal privacy legislation for teenagers over 13.
While these findings are not new, the extensive detailing of such practices is quite overwhelming. Affected services include prominent names such as X, TikTok, Reddit, Discord, Twitch, YouTube, Instagram, and several others.