The Federal Trade Commission is launching an inquiry into how companies amass user data and use that information for targeted advertising and other purposes. The agency issued an order requiring nine tech companies to provide details on how they collect data, what they do with it, and whether they allow users to opt out. The companies include Amazon, ByteDance, Discord, Facebook, Reddit, Snap, Twitter, WhatsApp, and YouTube. The FTC is seeking to understand how these firms collect data, track user activities across websites and devices, and determine advertising pricing and revenues. The inquiry aims to shed light on opaque business practices regarding data collection and surveillance. While the FTC did not allege any wrongdoing, the agency aims to bring transparency to an issue that impacts millions of consumers.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/ftc-surveillance-pricing-inquiry-d264f45fa586d9de6e35f932993b577f