Top social media platforms and big tech giants are targeting users and making profits off of their personal information, a new alarming report from the FTC revealed today.
A list of streaming platforms and social media firms were enlisted including TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Amazon, and more who were accused of taking part in user surveillance. This enables them to make profits from others and puts their privacy at risk. Similarly, they fail to protect kids as confirmed by the FTC on Thursday.
The massive report featuring 129 pages examined some of the biggest tech giant players and they were found guilty of unlawful data collection, use, and sales of user data. This includes the impact it can have on kids and teens. The results highlighted how the firm is good at compiling the data troves and using it for their best interest.
Moreover, the FTC mentioned how many failed to show compliance with deletion requests. Seeing so many take part in the behavior is concerning, the FTC adds. They also explained how monetization of such personal information results in billions of dollars worth of revenue each year.
The surveillance practices endanger people’s rights and threaten freedoms exposing them to a series of harms including theft and stalking. The FTC says the business models of leading tech giants cause mass data collection including targeted ads that give rise to the majority of the revenue.
It’s all so troubling as such practices are risky and can threaten minors online as well. For so long, those advocating for child safety felt such privacy laws enable social media services to be off the hook. Their products are so harmful yet there’s no accountability on this front.
Meta mentioned on Tuesday that it’s rolling out more safeguards to ensure teens remain safe at all times. This is why they launched Teen Accounts to address issues about the impacts social media can have on minors.
The report similarly recommended a host of steps such as federal legislation to restrict surveillance and provide the best consumer rights regarding user data.
Meanwhile, Congress is moving ahead to ensure tech giants are accountable for online content impacting children. We saw the Senate roll out another law in July to project minors called the Kids Online Safety Act. This would ensure firms strengthen privacy and provide greater control to parents over what kids are exposed to online.
These laws ensure kids’ privacy remains protected at all times and also ensure parents have the greatest control over what material the child sees.
Meanwhile, Google who is the owner of YouTube added that its privacy policies are some of the strictest in this industry. It confirmed that it does not sell user data online for the sake of ads. They also prohibit personalization of ads for those below 18 and never customize ads to those wishing to see kids' content.
Image: DIW-Aigen
Read next: UN Launches New Detailed Framework To Maximize AI Potential and Minimize Risks
A list of streaming platforms and social media firms were enlisted including TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Amazon, and more who were accused of taking part in user surveillance. This enables them to make profits from others and puts their privacy at risk. Similarly, they fail to protect kids as confirmed by the FTC on Thursday.
The massive report featuring 129 pages examined some of the biggest tech giant players and they were found guilty of unlawful data collection, use, and sales of user data. This includes the impact it can have on kids and teens. The results highlighted how the firm is good at compiling the data troves and using it for their best interest.
Moreover, the FTC mentioned how many failed to show compliance with deletion requests. Seeing so many take part in the behavior is concerning, the FTC adds. They also explained how monetization of such personal information results in billions of dollars worth of revenue each year.
The surveillance practices endanger people’s rights and threaten freedoms exposing them to a series of harms including theft and stalking. The FTC says the business models of leading tech giants cause mass data collection including targeted ads that give rise to the majority of the revenue.
It’s all so troubling as such practices are risky and can threaten minors online as well. For so long, those advocating for child safety felt such privacy laws enable social media services to be off the hook. Their products are so harmful yet there’s no accountability on this front.
Meta mentioned on Tuesday that it’s rolling out more safeguards to ensure teens remain safe at all times. This is why they launched Teen Accounts to address issues about the impacts social media can have on minors.
The report similarly recommended a host of steps such as federal legislation to restrict surveillance and provide the best consumer rights regarding user data.
Meanwhile, Congress is moving ahead to ensure tech giants are accountable for online content impacting children. We saw the Senate roll out another law in July to project minors called the Kids Online Safety Act. This would ensure firms strengthen privacy and provide greater control to parents over what kids are exposed to online.
These laws ensure kids’ privacy remains protected at all times and also ensure parents have the greatest control over what material the child sees.
Meanwhile, Google who is the owner of YouTube added that its privacy policies are some of the strictest in this industry. It confirmed that it does not sell user data online for the sake of ads. They also prohibit personalization of ads for those below 18 and never customize ads to those wishing to see kids' content.
Read next: UN Launches New Detailed Framework To Maximize AI Potential and Minimize Risks
