FTC Staff Report Finds Large Social Media and Video Streaming Companies Have Engaged in Vast Surveillance of Users with Lax Privacy Controls and Inadequate Safeguards for Kids and Teens

The report is based on responses to 6(b) orders issued in December 2020. The orders asked for information about how the companies collect, track and use personal and demographic information.

The staff report noted that the companies’ data collection, minimization and retention practices were “woefully inadequate’ The report also found that some companies did not delete all user data in response to user deletion requests.

The staff report found that the social media and video streaming services often treated teens the same as adult users. The report also noted some of the potential competition implications of the companies’ data practices.

The lead attorneys on this matter are Jacqueline Ford, Ronnie Solomon and Ryan Mehm from the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. Chair Khan, as well as Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya, Melissa Holyoak and Andrew N. Ferguson each released separate statements.