FTC Report Reveals Widespread Surveillance by Amazon, YouTube, Facebook

Sep 19, 2024, 06:26 PM

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a report on Thursday revealing widespread surveillance practices by large social media and streaming companies, including Amazon, YouTube, and Facebook. The report describes the data collection efforts of these companies as 'simply staggering,' highlighting their extensive tracking of both users and non-users. The FTC criticized the data privacy practices of these platforms as 'woefully inadequate,' emphasizing the urgent need for tighter restrictions on how personal information is collected, used, and retained. The report also points out the significant risks posed to children and teens, who are among the most vulnerable groups affected by these surveillance practices. Additionally, the FTC called attention to the harmful impacts of the advertising tracking and data broker ecosystems, which have profited immensely from these activities while exposing Americans to fraud, profiling, and other risks. The report also noted the massive risks and shady advertising practices involved.