US regulator threatens Facebook over privacy violations

The National Times - US regulator threatens Facebook over privacy violations

US regulator threatens Facebook over privacy violations / Photo: © AFP/File

The Washington-based Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said an independent investigation has found "several gaps and weaknesses in Facebook’s privacy program" that posed "substantial risks to the public."

The FTC's case began in 2018 after it was revealed that the personal data of tens of millions of Facebook users improperly wound up in the hands of Cambridge Analytica, a data firm that worked on former president Donald Trump's 2016 campaign.

In a 2019 settlement, Facebook agreed to pay a $5 billion penalty over the privacy violations and to allow regular audits of its privacy practices.

The FTC on Wednesday said Meta misled parents on parental controls, with under-13-year-olds found to still be allowed to engage in chats with contacts not vetted by parents.

The regulator said Facebook also continued to give third-party apps access to private information after promising to cut off access if users failed to use the apps in the previous 90 days.

As a result, the FTC is seeking to force Meta to stop launching new products until the independent auditors find that the company's privacy policies are compliant.

The FTC is also threatening to ban Meta from making money off of children's data.

Facebook spokesman Andy Stone called the FTC's move a "political stunt," and said it was overstepping its authority.

"Despite three years of continual engagement with the FTC around our agreement, they provided no opportunity to discuss this new, totally unprecedented theory," Stone said.

FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya, who will have a decisive vote on whether to move forward on the threat, also questioned his agency's authority to curb the monetization of kids’ data.

He greenlit Wednesday's warning but added that he looked forward to hearing additional arguments and will consider them "with an open mind."

D.Kelly--TNT

ANC’s Renewal Rhetoric Fades as Voters Reject Party in 2026 Local Elections

After nearly twenty years of official pledges to reverse internal decay and restore public trust, the African National Congress (ANC) faces a stark reality check following the 2026 local government elections. The results indicate that South African voters no longer believe in the party's capacity for renewal, marking a significant shift from the era when the ANC maintained overwhelming electoral support despite early warnings of structural crisis.

Cuban Diplomat Warns U.S. Blockade Is Severing People-to-People Ties

Cuban diplomat Gabriela Castillo warns that escalating U.S. sanctions are severing vital human connections between the two nations, particularly affecting academic exchanges and longstanding solidarity with African American communities. She argues that political coercion is inflicting collective punishment on Cuban civilians while erasing opportunities for mutual understanding.

Home Affairs Deploys AI to Clear Asylum Backlog Amid Staffing Crisis

The South African Department of Home Affairs has launched a new digital platform utilizing artificial intelligence and biometric technology to overhaul the country’s asylum process. The initiative aims to resolve a severe operational bottleneck, as only nine officials were managing thousands of outstanding appeals at the start of the current administration. Officials warn that registering an intention to apply does not grant automatic protection against immigration enforcement.

The National Times - US regulator threatens Facebook over privacy violations