FTC Study Finds 'Vast Surveillance' of Social Media Users (nytimes.com)
- Reference: 0175070883
- News link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/24/09/19/1358248/ftc-study-finds-vast-surveillance-of-social-media-users
- Source link: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/19/technology/ftc-meta-tiktok-privacy-surveillance.html
> The findings come from a study of how nine companies -- including Meta, YouTube and TikTok -- collected and used consumer data. The sites, which mostly offer free services, [2]profited off the data by feeding it into advertising that targets specific users by demographics, according to the report. The companies also failed to protect users, especially children and teens.
>
> The F.T.C. said it began its study nearly four years ago to offer the first holistic look into the opaque business practices of some of the biggest online platforms that have created multibillion-dollar ad businesses using consumer data. The agency said the report showed the need for federal privacy legislation and restrictions on how companies collect and use data. "Surveillance practices can endanger people's privacy, threaten their freedoms, and expose them to a host of harms, from identify theft to stalking," said Lina Kahn, the F.T.C.'s chair, in a statement.
[1] https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/09/ftc-staff-report-finds-large-social-media-video-streaming-companies-have-engaged-vast-surveillance
[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/19/technology/ftc-meta-tiktok-privacy-surveillance.html
...what a... (Score:2)
...surprise...
Captain Noduuh (Score:2)
Here's your winnings, Sir!
Honestly (Score:2)
This really isn't news anymore. Mass scooping up of data has become normalized. Also, there is this little thing about what's posted on social media being accessable to the general public.
Re: (Score:2)
it never was news
Rick Romero's Head asplode (Score:2)
Never in the history of Captain Obvious has anything been this obvious.
Unless the government is providing service with taxpayer dollars then if you're getting something for free you are the product.
I'm not normally the paranoid sort but after multiple stories of Facebook listening in on my phone and tracking me even though I never opened the app much less logged into it I've taken to just uninstalling both Facebook and Twitter as soon as I get a new phone. If anyone else pulled half the shit they d
Governments toolbox. (Score:2)
> Never in the history of Captain Obvious has anything been this obvious. Unless the government is providing service with taxpayer dollars then if you're getting something for free you are the product.
The irony of talking about taxpayer dollars and government providing a service, when social media is now a massive and powerful intelligence gathering tool for government.
If Facebook ever came close to declaring bankruptcy, you would find the men in black sprinting with briefcases stuffed with cash from every three-letter agency. Even the ones you haven’t heard of yet would come running. Too Big To Fail doesn’t even begin to describe law enforcements reliance on social media now.
Oh we’re
Re: (Score:2)
The problem isn't isolated to people obviously using "social media" and therefore being public in their behavior in ways that can be collected and monitored.
Virtually every website that anybody visits has third-party data collection technology installed, either for the purposes of "monetization" of the site's content, or for the purposes of "analytics". A small number of advertising companies, chief among them Google, makes the tools freely available, and virtually everyone who puts up a website uses the
It's not working very well (Score:2)
I am a white middle-aged man who doesn't drive and I keep getting ads for giant trucks and makeup for fat ladies.
I also get ads for Swiffer mops but I never clean my place either...
Re: (Score:3)
You're not getting the message.
Maybe you should start driving a giant truck and start wearing fat lady makeup.
Re: (Score:1)
> and makeup for fat ladies.
and you look faaabulous in it!
By the way, how is makeup for skinny ladies different than that for fat ladies?
Re: It's not working very well (Score:2)
It comes in bigger packages.
Re: (Score:1)
I deliberately manipulate the system, clicking the occasional ad that doesn't' interest me at all, hovering my mouse on other ads. I would much rather see ads for things that don't interest me, as those won't influence my behavior.
No, just keep taking selfies . . . (Score:2)
Isn't it just so much fun to see your own pretty face smiling back at you from the phone - and get some background into the shot. Doesn't it just feel scrumptious , having your few minutes of fame over and over again ? Never mind if an occasional stranger looks at your pictures, think how fun it will be for you and your friends to look at pictures of you? Doesn't that all just sound fabulous ? And maybe those strangers will all be your new friends, now isn't that a lovely thought? Oh, and yes, make sure
It's confirmed! (Score:3)
The FTC discovers reality at the pace of an asthmatic sloth.
FTC Study ... (Score:2)
How about the FTC crack down on all those data breaches that ALREADY are violation of the laws, and make each company liable for any and all damages consumers suffer as a result!
That would go a very long way for data privacy rather than new regulations on data when they still don't enforce the ones currently in use.
Privacy laws (Score:2)
The US needs laws protecting privacy.
Oh, and the government needs reminded of the requirement for a warrant, before violating your privacy. The founders didn't know about electronics, but they certainly would have included them under "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects".
It Won't Happen (Score:2)
The main reason we don't have these level of privacy laws is that it helps law enforcement. It might be illegal for law enforcement to surveil you; but not for the private sector doing it for profit. So they either purchase the data or subpoena it.
"We didn't collect that data. We're not the ones that violated privacy; the user gave that information up to the private company."
If the constitution doesn't allow the government to do it; then you do it through the private sector. When they don't do what you want
Re: (Score:2)
It is possible that this is an underlying reason why it will be an uphill better to get a citizen protection law banning the collection of all but necessary personal information on websites. But that doesn't mean it can't happen. The government isn't that fond of encryption for the people, either, but didn't manage to squelch it either.
The problem might be that this requires the government to act, where the spread of encryption required that the government not act. Getting the government to trip over it
Threatening the oligarchy (Score:1)
RIP Lisa Kahn, head of the FTC, found dead tomorrow of auto-erotic self-asphixiation You served your country well.
I would love targeted ads, if... (Score:2)
...they weren't so incredibly stupid
Here's what I want.
When I'm in the market for a product or service, I want all suppliers to send me their best pitch, preferably with lots of technical detail.
When I make a decision to buy or not, I want ALL pitches to stop.
What I don't want.
Endless spam about related products.
Sending me endlessly repeating ads for stuff I already bought.
Ads that seem to be worse than random. I once started receiving ads for 3D printers used in dentistry. Evidently, the stupid robot someh
Color me shocked (Score:4, Insightful)
Never mind this is the whole business model.
Re: (Score:2)
> Never mind this is the whole business model.
exactly and it's a pseudo-business model based on classism, economic discrimination and financial exploitation
ethics are foundational, which is why society is collapsing
Lina Kahn is taking names and kicking ass (Score:4, Informative)
The news to everyone here isn't so much the actual problem as described in TFS, but that the FTC, (under Lina Kahn' chair) is actually enforcing consumer protections. Good job Lina Kahn, and Joe Biden who appointed her!
It's not just billionaire republicans that are so upset with her either. LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, a democrat, contributed $10 million to Kamala Harris' campaign [1]along with a simple request to fire Lina Kahn [msnbc.com].
Here's [2]an interview of Jon Stewart interviewing Lina Kahn [youtube.com].
[1] https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/kamala-harris-linkedin-reid-hoffman-ftc-chair-lina-khan-rcna163897
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaDTiWaYfcM
Re: (Score:1)
Next up: "FTC discovers news pundits like to spin for ratings."