Findings reveal extensive surveillance for profit and lack of privacy safeguards for users.
A recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report highlighted the extensive data collection practices of major social media and video streaming platforms, revealing concerns over user privacy and safety, especially for children and teens. The report, based on responses from companies like Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter), found that these platforms engaged in vast surveillance of users, monetizing personal information while failing to provide adequate protections.
The report noted the companies’ use of invasive tracking technologies for targeted advertising, with many retaining and sharing massive amounts of data, including from data brokers, often without users’ ability to opt-out.
FTC Chair Lina Khan said, “While lucrative for the companies, these surveillance practices can endanger people’s privacy, threaten their freedoms, and expose them to a host of harms, from identity theft to stalking. Several firms’ failure to adequately protect kids and teens online is especially troubling. The Report’s findings are timely, particularly as state and federal policymakers consider legislation to protect people from abusive data practices.”
Despite claims that children aren’t present on these platforms, many companies treated teens similarly to adults, bypassing restrictions under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The report called for comprehensive federal privacy legislation to limit such practices and recommended stronger data protections, clearer policies, and improved safety measures for minors.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Chair Khan and FTC commissioners as they seek to ensure the privacy and protections for minors online.
- For administration officials as they encourage Congress to increase regulations to safeguard children on social media platforms.
Sources: Federal Trade Commission
