US Congress requires the FTC to manage how VPN firms function | Engadget

US Democrats have urged the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) to crack down on misleading practices within the Virtual Private Network (VPN) trade, The Verge has reported. In an open letter, Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) cited analysis indicating that three-quarters of the preferred VPNs “misrepresented their products,” main shoppers to a false sense of safety.

The information comes within the wake of the Supreme Court choice overturning Roe v. Wade that enables states to ban abortions. That could lead individuals to join VPN providers, however Wyden and Eshoo expressed considerations concerning the stage of privateness they will really count on.

 “Advocacy groups have… found that leading VPN services intentionally misrepresent the functionality of their product and fail to provide adequate security to their users,” they stated, citing analysis from Consumer Reports. “We’re highly concerned that this deceptive advertising is giving abortion-seekers a false sense of security when searching for abortion-related care or information, putting them at a higher risk of prosecution.”

The letter notes that “there are a lack of practical tools” to audit safety claims made by VPN suppliers, permitting them to promote information that could be incorrect. They additionally requested the FTC to develop a brochure informing anybody in search of an abortion about on-line privateness and the dangers and advantages of utilizing a VPN service.

“With abortion illegal or soon to be illegal in 13 states and severely restricted in many more, these abusive and exploitative data practices are simply unacceptable,” based on the letter. “We urge the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to take immediate action… to curtail abusive and deceptive data practices in companies providing VPN services to protect internet users seeking abortions.”