FTC Chair Warns Against Weakening Data Protections

FTC Focus & Priorities - FTC Chairman emphasizes the importance of protecting American consumers from foreign government demands on American tech companies, asserting that US laws should take precedence [4][5] - FTC is actively monitoring and potentially investigating AI companies to ensure they are honest about their products' capabilities and consequences for consumers [22][24] - FTC views protecting American privacy and ensuring data safety as a top priority, particularly concerning the Child Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) [13][14] Legal & Enforcement Actions - FTC paused administrative adjudication against Meta due to ongoing litigation in federal court, with no settlement discussions currently taking place [12][13] - FTC is awaiting a decision in the trial concerning the combination of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, expressing confidence in a successful outcome [17][18] - FTC has brought enforcement actions against companies that misrepresented their products to consumers [22] International Tech Regulation - FTC acknowledges the growing pressure on American tech companies from foreign governments (Europe, UK, Brazil) to potentially censor speech and weaken security protections [3][8] - FTC commends Apple for pushing back against UK requirements for a backdoor into encrypted data, highlighting the importance of protecting American consumers [6][7] - FTC stresses that American tech firms have legal obligations to protect American consumers and should not prioritize compliance with foreign government demands at their expense [7][8]