FTC details how streaming services, social media have become \u2018mass surveillance\u2019 machines | CyberScoop<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"A review of nine companies\u2019 business practices found that using their services was just the beginning of vast data collection efforts.\"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/ftc-report-streaming-social-media-surveillance-privacy\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"FTC details how streaming services, social media have become \u2018mass surveillance\u2019 machines \"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A review of nine companies\u2019 business practices found that using their services was just the beginning of vast data collection efforts.\"> <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/ftc-report-streaming-social-media-surveillance-privacy\/\"> <meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CyberScoop\"> <meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-09-19T19:16:49+00:00\"> <meta name=\"author\" content=\"djohnson\"> <meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\"> <meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-5.jpg\">  <link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/securepubads.g.doubleclick.net\">\n<link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/use.typekit.net\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" type=\"application\/rss+xml\" title=\"CyberScoop \u00bb Feed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/feed\/\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" type=\"application\/rss+xml\" title=\"CyberScoop \u00bb Comments Feed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/comments\/feed\/\"> <link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"all-css-2\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-includes\/css\/dist\/block-library\/style.min.css?m=1725982252g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\"> <link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"all-css-6\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/mu-plugins\/search\/elasticpress\/dist\/css\/related-posts-block-styles.min.css?m=1725466133g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\"> <link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"all-css-8\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/themes\/scoopnewsgroup\/dist\/css\/frontend.css?m=1724269863g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\">\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"typekit-css\" href=\"https:\/\/use.typekit.net\/itk2qbh.css?ver=ada0ad45b21fc79c6694\" media=\"all\"> <link rel=\"https:\/\/api.w.org\/\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/\"><link rel=\"alternate\" title=\"JSON\" type=\"application\/json\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81822\"><link rel=\"EditURI\" type=\"application\/rsd+xml\" title=\"RSD\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/xmlrpc.php?rsd\">\n<meta name=\"generator\" content=\"WordPress 6.6.2\">\n<link rel=\"shortlink\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=81822\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" title=\"oEmbed (JSON)\" type=\"application\/json+oembed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/oembed\/1.0\/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcyberscoop.com%2Fftc-report-streaming-social-media-surveillance-privacy%2F\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" title=\"oEmbed (XML)\" type=\"text\/xml+oembed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/oembed\/1.0\/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcyberscoop.com%2Fftc-report-streaming-social-media-surveillance-privacy%2F&format=xml\">   <link rel=\"icon\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=32\" sizes=\"32x32\">\n<link rel=\"icon\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=192\" sizes=\"192x192\">\n<link rel=\"apple-touch-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=180\">\n<meta name=\"msapplication-TileImage\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=270\"> <\/head><body class=\"post-template-default single single-post postid-81822 single-format-standard\" id=\"readabilityBody\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/ftc-report-streaming-social-media-surveillance-privacy\/#main\" class=\"skip-to-content-link visually-hidden-focusable\">Skip to main content<\/a> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-desktop\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <main id=\"main\" role=\"main\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-mobile\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"stickybar\" class=\"stickybar stickybar--event js-stickybar\">\n<div class=\"stickybar__details\" readability=\"4.952380952381\">\n<div class=\"stickybar__info js-sticky-bar-content\" readability=\"32\">\n<p>Voting is open for the 2024 CyberScoop 50 awards! <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <a class=\"stickybar__link button button-tertiary\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cyberscoop50\/vote\/\">Click here!<\/a> <\/div>\n<p> <button class=\"stickybar__close js-stickybar-close\" aria-controls=\"stickybar\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--close\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"m.822.518-.805.805L9.695 11 .017 20.678l.805.805 9.678-9.678 9.677 9.678.806-.805L11.305 11l9.678-9.677-.806-.805-9.677 9.677L.822.518Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg> <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"25.389799635701\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"30.279569892473\">\n<p> A review of nine companies\u2019 business practices found that using their services was just the beginning of vast data collection efforts. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines.jpg?resize=640%2C426&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-5.jpg 5121w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-5.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-5.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-5.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-5.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-5.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-5.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-5.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-5.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-5.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-5.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1013px) 100vw, 1013px\"><figcaption> An FTC report examining the business practices of nine tech and social media companies concluded that the services \u201cpose unique risks to children and teens\u201d and that tech companies\u2019 self-regulation efforts have been a failure. (Credit Peter Cade via Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"77.262669034285\"><body readability=\"156.08087690712\"><\/p>\n<p>A Federal Trade Commission inquiry found that popular social media and video streaming services engaged in \u201cmass data collection\u201d of their users, as well as some non-users, while also failing to implement privacy safeguards for children and teens.<\/p>\n<p>The findings, contained in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/business-guidance\/blog\/2020\/12\/ftc-issues-6b-orders-social-media-and-video-streaming-services\">report<\/a> that has been unanimously endorsed by the agency\u2019s commissioners, provides fresh insights into online video streaming\u2019s data collection practices, which a bipartisan group of commissioners called \u201cdangerously opaque\u201d in 2020 when the probe began.<\/p>\n<p>Specifically, the agency concluded that these services \u201cpose unique risks to children and teens\u201d and that tech companies\u2019 self-regulation efforts have been a failure. <\/p>\n<p>The report catalogs how users, and in some cases even non-users, had personal information, demographic information, interests, behaviors and activities on other parts of the internet tracked and collected across multiple devices. This information was often combined with passive inferences, data-tracking pixels and information purchased from third-party data brokers to form more complete consumer profiles before being sold to other willing buyers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cAmerica\u2019s hands-off approach has produced an enormous ecosystem of data extraction and targeting that takes place largely out of view to consumers,\u201d Samuel Levine, director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, wrote in a preface to the report. \u201cWhile there have been isolated instances of firms taking pro-privacy actions, those continue to be the exceptions that prove the rule. We\u2019ve seen over and over that, when the financial interest in extracting personal information collides with the interest in protecting consumer privacy, consumers lose out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The report was constructed from data collected between 2019 and 2020, after the FTC ordered nine companies \u2014 Amazon, ByteDance, Discord, Facebook\/Meta, Reddit, Snap, Twitter\/X, WhatsApp, and YouTube \u2014 to provide information about their business practices around video streaming and social media. <\/p>\n<p>While the agency notes that some of these practices may have since changed, the companies\u2019 answers showed how engaging with these services was often just the beginning of their data-collection enterprise, and that those efforts endured long after individuals left the sites or used other services. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines.png?w=640&ssl=1\" alt><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A graphic illustrating the different sources that streaming and social media firms use to collect data on consumers. [Source: FTC]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Additionally, most companies lacked safeguards for handling minors\u2019 data, treating users aged 13-17 like adults. Some claimed no child users, citing terms preventing young children from creating accounts.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>CyberScoop has reached out to the nine investigated companies for comment. <\/p>\n<p>Kate Sheerin, head of U.S. and Canada public policy at Discord, told CyberScoop in a statement that while the FTC\u2019s intent and focus on consumers is important, they take issue with the way the report \u201cinaccurately\u201d lumps Discord\u2019s business model with other companies who engage in expansive digital advertising. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cDiscord\u2019s business model is very different \u2014 we are a real-time communications platform with strong user privacy controls and no feeds for endless scrolling,\u201d Sheerin said. \u201cAt the time of the study, Discord did not run a formal digital advertising service, which is a central pillar of the report. We look forward to sharing more about Discord and how we protect our users.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Google spokesperson Jos\u00e9 Casta\u00f1eda said in a statement that the company \u201chas the strictest privacy policies in our industry\u201d and that \u201cwe never sell people\u2019s personal information and we don\u2019t use sensitive information to serve ads.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/adspolicy\/answer\/12205906?hl=en&ref_topic=1626336&sjid=5526689007350931265-NA\">prohibit ad personalization<\/a> for users under 18 and we don\u2019t personalize ads to anyone watching \u2018made for kids content\u2019 on YouTube,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Interactive Advertising Bureau, a lobbying group representing tech advertisers, criticized the FTC\u2019s conclusions and argued that Congress and states should be at the forefront of regulating digital privacy issues, not the FTC.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile we are still digesting the report, we are disappointed with the FTC\u2019s continued characterization of the digital advertising industry as engaged in \u2018mass commercial surveillance,\u2019\u201d David Cohen, the organization\u2019s CEO, said in a written statement to CyberScoop. \u201cThis charged statement suggests that the personal data of consumers is covertly collected and used for advertising purposes. Nothing could be further from the truth, as countless studies have shown that consumers understand the value exchange, and welcome the opportunity to have access to free or highly subsidized content and services.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The report recommends tech and social media companies improve on the status quo, including by limiting personal data collection, refraining from sharing personal data with third parties, increasing transparency, adding user controls, and treating existing child online safety laws like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/legal-library\/browse\/rules\/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule-coppa\">COPPA<\/a> as a floor for privacy protections instead of a ceiling.<\/p>\n<p>In a separate statement, FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya noted that most of these companies already implement many of these privacy protections in Europe due to laws like the General Data Protection Act (GDPR).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese companies could have effectively flipped a switch and offered Americans the same privacy protections as they did Europeans. Most of them chose not to,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>This week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved two bills \u2014 the Kids Online Safety Act and an update to the Children\u2019s Online Protection Privacy Rule, or COPPA 2.0 \u2014 that would place new limits on how companies could collect and share data about children and teen users. The fate of both bills <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2024\/09\/19\/house-panel-advances-child-safety-bills-roadblocks-pile-up\/\">remains uncertain<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, sponsors of the <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/tag\/american-privacy-rights-act\/\">American Privacy Rights Act<\/a> continue to push for Congress to tackle comprehensive data privacy legislation, even as the bill\u2019s passage has stalled. Speaking at the Forum Global Privacy Conference this week, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said consumers were \u201cgrowing tired\u201d of unchecked data collection, and that pressure to address the issue will increase in the coming years.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have two issues: the need for technology leadership on an international basis to set standards by having privacy law, and we have consumer anxiety reaching a high-pitch fever,\u201d Cantwell said. \u201cThose two issues alone, in my opinion, demonstrate enough why we need to move forward on a federal privacy law, but let\u2019s just throw another one in \u2014 the kicker for really why we are going to have to get legislation \u2014 and that is that AI puts all of this on steroids.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\" readability=\"3.4446397188049\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"13\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Derek B. Johnson\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Derek B. Johnson<\/h4>\n<p> Derek B. Johnson is a reporter at CyberScoop, where his beat includes cybersecurity, elections and the federal government. Prior to that, he has provided award-winning coverage of cybersecurity news across the public and private sectors for various publications since 2017. Derek has a bachelor\u2019s degree in print journalism from Hofstra University in New York and a master\u2019s degree in public policy from George Mason University in Virginia. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"popular-stories popular-stories--single-post\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__container\">\n<h2 class=\"popular-stories__title\"> More Scoops <\/h2>\n<div class=\"popular-stories__stories\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__cards\">\n<article class=\"post-item post-item--popular-stories-cards \" readability=\"24.359706362153\">\n<figure class=\"post-item__thumbnail\"> <a class=\"post-item__thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/federal-privacy-bill-passes-house-subcommittee\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"506\" height=\"337\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-2.jpg?resize=506%2C337&ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-ratio-16-9-md size-ratio-16-9-md wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-6.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-6.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-6.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-6.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-6.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-6.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-6.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-6.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-6.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-6.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 506px) 100vw, 506px\"> <\/a><figcaption class=\"screen-reader-text\"> WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 MARCH 23: Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee speaks during the hearing with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 23, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla\/Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<header class=\"post-item__meta\" readability=\"3.6328125\">\n<h3 class=\"post-item__title\"> <a class=\"post-item__title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/federal-privacy-bill-passes-house-subcommittee\/\"> Revamped privacy bill sails through House subcommittee <\/a> <\/h3>\n<p> Even as the legislation advanced through a key subcommittee, members from both parties raised concerns with the measure, indicating that it faces an uncertain road toward passage\u2026 <\/p>\n<div class=\"post-item__byline\"> <span class=\"post-item__author\"> <span>By <\/span> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/derek-johnson\/\"> Derek B. Johnson <\/a> <\/span> <\/div>\n<p> <\/header>\n<p> <\/article>\n<article class=\"post-item post-item--popular-stories-cards \">\n<figure class=\"post-item__thumbnail\"> <a class=\"post-item__thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/congressional-privacy-bill-looks-to-rein-in-data-brokers\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"237\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-3.jpg?resize=237%2C168&ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-ratio-16-9-sm size-ratio-16-9-sm wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-7.jpg 2057w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-7.jpg?resize=300,213 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-7.jpg?resize=768,544 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-7.jpg?resize=1024,726 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-7.jpg?resize=1536,1089 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-7.jpg?resize=2048,1452 2048w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-7.jpg?resize=600,425 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-7.jpg?resize=237,168 237w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-7.jpg?resize=475,337 475w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-7.jpg?resize=952,675 952w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-7.jpg?resize=1189,843 1189w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 237px) 100vw, 237px\"> <\/a><figcaption class=\"screen-reader-text\"> A bipartisan compromise bill on privacy in Congress would bring transparency to the data broker industry. Some experts believe that\u2019s insufficient. (Image Credit: WLDavies via Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<header class=\"post-item__meta\">\n<h3 class=\"post-item__title\"> <a class=\"post-item__title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/congressional-privacy-bill-looks-to-rein-in-data-brokers\/\"> Congressional privacy bill looks to rein in data brokers <\/a> <\/h3>\n<div class=\"post-item__byline\"> <span class=\"post-item__author\"> <span>By <\/span> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/derek-johnson\/\"> Derek B. Johnson <\/a> <\/span> <\/div>\n<p> <\/header>\n<p> <\/article>\n<article class=\"post-item post-item--popular-stories-cards \">\n<figure class=\"post-item__thumbnail\"> <a class=\"post-item__thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cfpbs-data-rules-security-privacy-competition\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"252\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-4.jpg?resize=252%2C168&ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-ratio-16-9-sm size-ratio-16-9-sm wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-8.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-8.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-8.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-8.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-8.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-8.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-8.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-8.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-8.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines-8.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 252px) 100vw, 252px\"> <\/a><figcaption class=\"screen-reader-text\"> Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Rohit Chopra delivers remarks on relieving medical debt during an event in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next to the White House, in Washington, DC, on April 11, 2022. (Stefani Reynolds \/ AFP) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<header class=\"post-item__meta\">\n<h3 class=\"post-item__title\"> <a class=\"post-item__title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cfpbs-data-rules-security-privacy-competition\/\"> CFPB\u2019s proposed data rules would improve security, privacy and competition <\/a> <\/h3>\n<div class=\"post-item__byline\"> <span class=\"post-item__author\"> <span>By <\/span> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/barath-raghavan\/\"> Barath Raghavan <\/a> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/bruce-schneier\/\"> Bruce Schneier <\/a> <\/span> <\/div>\n<p> <\/header>\n<p> <\/article>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/div>\n<p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<section class=\"latest-podcasts\">\n<h2 class=\"latest-podcasts__title\"> Latest Podcasts\t<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"top-categories\">\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Government<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Technology<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Geopolitics<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/main> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--bottom \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"interstitial\" class=\"welcome__container\"> <button id=\"close-modal-1\" class=\"welcome__clickable_area\"><\/button> <\/p>\n<div class=\"welcome__ad_wrapper\">\n<p> <button id=\"close-modal-3\" class=\"welcome__continue-button\">Continue to CyberScoop<\/button> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>   <\/body> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/ftc-report-streaming-social-media-surveillance-privacy\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FTC details how streaming services, social media have become \u2018mass<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[673,606,2739,458,268],"tags":[676,609,2740,460,274],"class_list":["post-5401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-childrens-privacy","category-data-privacy","category-digital-advertising","category-federal-trade-commission-ftc","category-privacy","tag-childrens-privacy","tag-data-privacy","tag-digital-advertising","tag-federal-trade-commission-ftc","tag-privacy"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","chromenews-featured":"","chromenews-large":"","chromenews-medium":""},"author_info":{"display_name":"Cyber Scoop","author_link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/author\/cyberscoop\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/childrens-privacy\/\" rel=\"category tag\">children's privacy<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/data-privacy\/\" rel=\"category tag\">data privacy<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/digital-advertising\/\" rel=\"category tag\">digital advertising<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/federal-trade-commission-ftc\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Federal Trade Commission (FTC)<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/privacy\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Privacy<\/a>","tag_info":"Privacy","comment_count":"0","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5401"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5401\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

{"id":5401,"date":"2024-09-19T14:16:49","date_gmt":"2024-09-19T19:16:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=81822"},"modified":"2024-09-19T14:16:49","modified_gmt":"2024-09-19T19:16:49","slug":"ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2024\/09\/19\/ftc-details-how-streaming-services-social-media-have-become-mass-surveillance-machines\/","title":{"rendered":"FTC details how streaming services, social media have become \u2018mass surveillance\u2019 machines\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"