Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and other social networks have been accused of widespread surveillance of users

A new report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accuses major social media companies of mass collection and inadequate protection of user data.

Here's What We Know

The report says platforms such as Meta, YouTube, X Corp (formerly Twitter), ByteDance (TikTok), Amazon (which owns Twitch), Snap Inc (Snapchat), Discord, Reddit and WhatsApp collect massive amounts of user data, including children and teenagers, and fail to take sufficient measures to protect it.

FTC Chairman Lina M. Khan said the companies monetise the collected data to the tune of billions of dollars a year, which could threaten users' privacy and freedoms. The report also notes that companies are storing user data indefinitely and not always deleting it upon request.

The FTC is calling for stricter laws and better data protection practices, including restrictions on data collection and storage, and stronger protections for children. However, it remains unclear whether this report will lead to real change in social media data collection practices.

Source: Android Authority FTC