Twitter was fined $150 million (£119 million) in the United States after law enforcement authorities accused it of inappropriately using user data to sell personalized advertisements. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice contend that Twitter violated a regulatory agreement, according to court papers. Twitter has previously said that it would not share personal information with advertisers, such as phone numbers and email addresses.
The social networking company, according to federal investigators, broke these rules. Twitter was fined £400,000 in December 2020 for breaking Europe’s GDPR data protection standards. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent US government agency whose mission is to enforce antitrust laws and safeguard consumers.
It accuses Twitter of breaking a 2011 FTC order that forbids the company from misrepresenting its privacy and security policies. The bulk of Twitter’s revenue comes from its platform, which allows users ranging from consumers to celebrities to businesses to broadcast 280-character messages or tweets.
Twitter began seeking users’ phone numbers or email addresses in 2013 to increase account security, according to a complaint filed on behalf of the FTC by the Department of Justice.
“As the complaint alleges, Twitter acquired data from users ostensibly for security purposes, but then exploited the data to target users with advertising,” said FTC Chair Lina Khan.
“This strategy touched over 140 million Twitter users while also boosting Twitter’s primary revenue source.”
“Yet again, Twitter is undermining the trust that its users have in their platform by using their data for personal advantage and profit,” Ian Reynolds, managing director of computer security firm Secure Team, told the BBC.
“Twitter deceived its users into believing they were safe by collecting their data under the pretense of security and account protection, only to end up abusing the data to target their users with advertisements,” he stated.
“This reality highlights the continued power of corporations over your data and the fact that customers will have to wait a long time before they can be certain that they have total control over their digital footprint.”
Customers must provide a phone number and an email address to authenticate their accounts on Twitter. This information may also be used to change passwords, unlock accounts, and turn on two-factor authentication.
In addition to a username and password, two-factor authentication provides an extra layer of security by sending a code to either a phone number or an email address to aid users in entering Twitter.
However, the FTC claims that Twitter was using such data to expand its advertising business until at least September 2019. It has been accused of giving advertisers access to users’ security information in exchange for advertising.
In addition to the fine, Twitter must also:
-Stop using the phony phone numbers and email addresses you got illegally.
-Users should be warned about illegal access to security information.
-Users should be made aware of the FTC’s legal action
-Explain how to turn off customized ads and how to configure multi-factor authentication
-Offer multi-factor authentication options that don’t need a phone number
-Adopt a more comprehensive privacy and security approach that includes notifying the FTC of any concerns within 30 days
Vanita Gupta, US Associate Attorney General, remarked, “The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the privacy of consumers’ sensitive data.”
“The $150 million penalties reflect the seriousness of Twitter’s allegations, and the extensive new compliance requirements that will be imposed as a result of the proposed settlement will help prevent similar misleading practices that harm users’ privacy.”
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