Facebook Is in Hot Water Again for Alleged Violations of Kids' Privacy
Facebook parent company Meta is facing a harsher crackdown from the US Federal Trade Commission for allegedly violating users’ privacy again.
The FTC claims the company broke a previous privacy agreement the agency struck with Meta in 2020, partly for the Cambridge Analytica scandal. In addition, the US regulator found the social media giant in violation of a digital privacy law protecting children.
In response, the FTC is moving(Opens in a new window) to restrict Meta’s activities even more, including banning the social media company from monetizing the data from users under the age of 18 for profit, such as serving them targeted ads.
Another penalty would block Meta from launching a new product or service until it’s been vetted and fully complies with the FTC’s requirements on privacy.
“Facebook has repeatedly violated its privacy promises,” said FTC Director for the Bureau Consumer Protection Samuel Levine. “The company’s recklessness has put young users at risk, and Facebook needs to answer for its failures.”
The FTC voted 3-0 to pursue the restrictions against Meta with Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya abstaining(Opens in a new window) from the vote. The commission plans on cracking down by adding changes to the original 2020 privacy agreement it struck with Meta. However, the company will have a chance to contest the findings during a formal proceeding.
Meta says the FTC is treating the company unfairly. “This is a political stunt,” Meta said in a statement(Opens in a new window). “Despite three years of continual engagement with the FTC around our agreement, they provided no opportunity to discuss this new, totally unprecedented theory.
“Let's be clear about what the FTC is trying to do: usurp the authority of
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