FTC Report Confirms that Commercial Surveillance is Out of Control

A new report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) confirms the concerns that the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has been raising for years about the collection and use of personal data by large technology companies. This four-year investigation examines the data practices of nine major social media and video streaming platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). The findings reveal that these companies have prioritized their economic benefits over user privacy, leaving consumers with little control over their personal information.

The report details how companies have significantly expanded the spectrum of data they collect, far surpassing user expectations. They not only monitor activities within their platforms, but also track behaviors on other websites and apps, collect information about non-users, and even purchase data from intermediaries. Some of the collected data includes detailed information about the pages users visit, location, demographics, and interests, even sensitive ones such as support in divorce processes.

One of the most disturbing revelations of the report is that most companies share this personal information with third parties. Some admitted that it was impossible to provide a comprehensive list of all entities with whom they shared data. The lack of a verification process for third parties before sharing this information and the absence of controls in the use of shared data expose consumers to significant privacy risks.

Furthermore, the report points out that there is a concerning lack of transparency around how personal information is collected, shared, and used. Consumers lack clear information about companies’ practices, preventing them from effectively protecting their privacy. Although some companies offer privacy controls, these are often ineffective or opaque, and sometimes do not even delete user data when requested.

The business model of behavior-based advertising has been identified as the main culprit of these privacy violations. Companies generate huge profits through the creation of detailed user profiles, leading them to develop increasingly invasive methods of data collection. The report argues that without adequate federal privacy legislation, self-regulation by companies has failed, allowing data collection and sharing to continue without sufficient safeguards.

In response to this situation, the EFF advocates for the implementation of federal legislation that includes components such as data minimization and user rights, a ban on behavior-based advertising, and a strong enforcement mechanism that allows individuals to sue companies that violate their privacy. The EFF argues that using online services should not involve surrendering personal information to multiple companies. To combat tracking, they suggest using extensions like Privacy Badger, although they emphasize the urgent need for significant legislative action to protect data from corporations that use exploitative practices.

Source: MiMub in Spanish

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