04.10.2024 13:36:00
Дата публикации
A new report from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has found serious privacy issues at major social media and video platforms. The four-year investigation examined nine companies, including Facebook, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). It found that they were collecting and storing vast amounts of personal user data, often without proper oversight or transparency.
According to the report, the companies were collecting information not only about their users, but also about those who had never created accounts on their platforms. This included data obtained from intermediaries, as well as demographic and behavioral data. And the companies were storing the data for long periods of time, despite user requests to delete it.
The FTC also noted that the companies’ business models motivate them to collect large amounts of data, primarily for targeted advertising. This creates serious privacy risks, especially when such data is shared with third parties without proper oversight. In some cases, companies couldn’t even say exactly who they were sharing their data with, raising questions about transparency and compliance with security regulations.
Particular attention was paid to the algorithms and analytics systems that process the collected data. Users had little or no way to opt out of having their data used for such purposes, and testing and monitoring of these systems was poor.
The issue of competition is also highlighted: the accumulation of large amounts of data gives companies the opportunity to dominate the market. The FTC recommended that Congress pass federal privacy laws, limit the collection and storage of data, and strengthen protections for children and adolescents.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), which supported the FTC’s findings, also issued a statement emphasizing that the problem of commercial surveillance has long been out of control. The EFF has been warning for years that companies are collecting and using users’ personal data in volumes that far exceed reasonable limits.
The EFF points to the massive collection of data such as websites visited, geolocation, and user interests, including sensitive information such as divorce support or alcohol preferences. This data is often shared with third parties without proper verification, exposing users to significant risks.
According to the FTC report, the business model of online behavioral advertising is at the root of the problem, as companies create increasingly detailed profiles of users to increase profits. Such surveillance methods inevitably lead to privacy violations.
In conclusion, both the FTC and the EFF agree: without urgent legislative changes, commercial surveillance will only get worse, jeopardizing the privacy of millions of users.
(text translation is done automatically)
According to the report, the companies were collecting information not only about their users, but also about those who had never created accounts on their platforms. This included data obtained from intermediaries, as well as demographic and behavioral data. And the companies were storing the data for long periods of time, despite user requests to delete it.
The FTC also noted that the companies’ business models motivate them to collect large amounts of data, primarily for targeted advertising. This creates serious privacy risks, especially when such data is shared with third parties without proper oversight. In some cases, companies couldn’t even say exactly who they were sharing their data with, raising questions about transparency and compliance with security regulations.
Particular attention was paid to the algorithms and analytics systems that process the collected data. Users had little or no way to opt out of having their data used for such purposes, and testing and monitoring of these systems was poor.
The issue of competition is also highlighted: the accumulation of large amounts of data gives companies the opportunity to dominate the market. The FTC recommended that Congress pass federal privacy laws, limit the collection and storage of data, and strengthen protections for children and adolescents.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), which supported the FTC’s findings, also issued a statement emphasizing that the problem of commercial surveillance has long been out of control. The EFF has been warning for years that companies are collecting and using users’ personal data in volumes that far exceed reasonable limits.
The EFF points to the massive collection of data such as websites visited, geolocation, and user interests, including sensitive information such as divorce support or alcohol preferences. This data is often shared with third parties without proper verification, exposing users to significant risks.
According to the FTC report, the business model of online behavioral advertising is at the root of the problem, as companies create increasingly detailed profiles of users to increase profits. Such surveillance methods inevitably lead to privacy violations.
In conclusion, both the FTC and the EFF agree: without urgent legislative changes, commercial surveillance will only get worse, jeopardizing the privacy of millions of users.
