Lawmakers: FTC must ensure tech companies uphold youth online privacy
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[October 09, 2021]
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three U.S.
Democratic lawmakers on Friday urged the Federal Trade Commision to
ensure technology companies like Facebook <FB.O>, Alphabet's YouTube <GOOGL.O>
and TikTok comply with policy changes aimed protecting young people
online.
The letter from Senator Ed Markey and Representatives Kathy Castor and
Lori Trahan cited recent commitments by the companies amid growing
concern by lawmakers about young people online. The FTC, said the letter
seen by Reuters, has an "obligation to ensure that powerful technology
platforms comply with their public statements and policies on children’s
and teen’s privacy."
The FTC and Facebook declined to comment. TikTok and YouTube did not
immediately comment.
Facebook came under harsh criticism from senators this week at a Senate
Commerce subcommittee hearing that heard testimony from former Facebook
employee Frances Haugen, who said she believes "Facebook's products harm
children, stoke division and weaken our democracy."
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The lawmakers cited young people's increasing online use - saying it was
now on average almost five hours each day. "We therefore encourage you
to use every tool at your disposal to vigilantly scrutinize companies’
data practices and ensure that they abide by their public commitments,"
they wrote.
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A 3D printed Youtube and Tik Tok logo are seen near smartphone with
displayed Tik Tok logo in this illustration taken, September 15,
2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
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Some changes have been prompted by a new UK law that
took effect last month called the Age Appropriate Design Code. The
lawmakers noted photo-sharing app Instagram publicly announced it is
"defaulting young people into private accounts, making it harder for
potentially suspicious accounts to find young people."
Last month, Instagram said it was pausing plans to develop a new app
it is creating for kids.
The subcommittee chaired by Senator Richard Blumenthal is planning
another hearing for as early as the week of Oct. 18 that is expected
to include other major tech companies like TikTok, Snap and YouTube.
A committee spokesman said the hearing had not been finalized but
the panel has secured commitments from several social media
companies to appear in the coming weeks.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Dan Grebler)
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