FTC 6(b) Social Media and Video Streaming Data Study ('A Look Behind the Screens')
- Country
- United States
- Law / measure
- FTC 6(b) Social Media and Video Streaming Data Study ('A Look Behind the Screens')
- Type
- data-protection
- Enforcement
- investigation
- Status
- Staff report published; Reddit one of nine companies studied
- Date
- 2024-09-19
Summary
In December 2020 the FTC issued orders under Section 6(b) of the FTC Act to nine large social-media and video-streaming companies, including Reddit, Inc., to study their data collection, use, and retention practices. On September 19, 2024, FTC staff published the resulting report, 'A Look Behind the Screens: Examining the Data Practices of Social Media and Video Streaming Services.' The other companies studied were Amazon (Twitch), Meta, YouTube, X, Snap, ByteDance (TikTok), Discord, and WhatsApp. The report found extensive surveillance of users with inadequate data minimization and retention controls and insufficient protections for children and teens. It was a study and policy report rather than an enforcement action against any single company.