Twitter Faces Deeper FTC Probe Into Privacy, Security Practices: Report

The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is deepening its probe into Twitter’s privateness and information safety practices, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing sources conversant in the matter. The FTC’s legal professionals have questioned two former firm executives previously month on the social media platform’s compliance with the company’s 2011 consent decree, the report added. The company has requested the corporate if it has the required assets to adjust to the privateness consent decree, an individual conversant in the matter instructed Reuters final week.

Upheaval and mass layoffs at Twitter since its takeover by Elon Musk have sparked considerations that the social media big may fail to abide by a May 2022 settlement with the US regulator by which the corporate agreed to enhance its privateness practices. That settlement preceded the Musk takeover.

In a settlement in May, Twitter agreed to pay $150 million (roughly Rs. 1,240 crore) and assess potential options for information privateness and safety points. It additionally resolved allegations that it misused personal info, resembling cellphone numbers, for promoting after telling customers the data can be used for safety causes.

That settlement, in flip, was prompted by assertions that the corporate had violated a previous consent decree reached in 2011 after two information breaches, with Twitter pledging then that it could not mislead customers about privateness protections.

Mass layoffs on the agency, which was purchased by billionaire Elon Musk in October for $44 billion (roughly Rs. 3,37,465 crore) has sparked considerations that the social media firm might fail to abide by the settlement.

Twitter laid off roughly 3,700 staff in early November in a cost-cutting measure by its new proprietor.

The firm didn’t instantly reply to Reuters’ request for feedback, whereas the FTC declined to remark.

© Thomson Reuters 2022