FTC report slams tech giants for privacy and child safety failures

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) criticized big tech companies like YouTube, Amazon, and Facebook for failing to protect user privacy and children’s safety. 

The 129-page report results from a 2020 FTC probe that asked nine social networks and video streaming platforms to provide information on how they collect, use, and sell people’s data and explain how their algorithms affect children.

The FTC found that these companies often collect too much personal data and fail to prioritize user privacy, often collecting excessive data for AI tools without sufficient oversight.

Chair Lina Khan said that companies often ignore the presence of children on their platforms.

The FTC urges Congress to pass stronger privacy laws, as current practices put users at risk and fail to protect their rights in an increasingly digital world.