FTC Report Unveils Extensive Surveillance Practices by Social Media Giants

A recent analysis by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reveals that major social media companies have engaged in extensive surveillance to profit from users’ personal information. The report, stemming from inquiries launched nearly four years ago, found that these companies collect vast amounts of data—sometimes through data brokers—and can retain this information indefinitely.

FTC Chair Lina Khan emphasized that these practices endanger privacy and increase risks of identity theft and stalking, particularly concerning their inadequate protections for children and teens online. The business models of many companies incentivize the mass collection of user data for targeted advertising, prioritizing profit over privacy.

In response, the Interactive Advertising Bureau argued that users are aware of the trade-off for free services and criticized the FTC’s portrayal of the digital advertising industry as engaged in “mass commercial surveillance.”

The FTC’s findings, based on responses from major platforms like Meta, YouTube, and TikTok, highlighted insufficient data protection measures and noted that some companies fail to delete user data as requested. The report urged social media firms to curb their data collection and called for comprehensive federal privacy legislation to safeguard users.