FTC Chair Lina Khan discusses the impact of Big Tech acquisitions on American privacy protections in a recent "60 Minutes" interview.
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| FTC Chair Lina Khan reveals how major tech acquisitions have undermined privacy for Americans in a new interview. Image Courtesy: FTC |
Washington DC, USA - September 23, 2024:
In a revealing interview on "60 Minutes," Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan discussed the erosion of privacy protections for Americans, attributing it to unchecked acquisitions by major tech companies. Over the past few decades, Khan noted that five dominant players have completed more than 800 acquisitions without significant regulatory intervention, leading to substantial harm for consumers.
Khan cited Facebook’s 2014 purchase of WhatsApp as a pivotal example, explaining how such acquisitions dismantled existing privacy safeguards. Following the FTC's 2020 lawsuit against Facebook, now Meta, for alleged anticompetitive practices, a district judge initially dismissed the case due to insufficient evidence of monopoly status. However, the FTC later refiled the complaint.
Highlighting the consequences of these acquisitions, Khan stated that companies once promising enhanced privacy have altered their data policies after being acquired by larger firms. She pointed to WhatsApp's controversial change in privacy terms in 2021, which required users to share their data with Facebook, resulting in a significant fine from Ireland's privacy regulator.
Since her appointment in 2021, Khan has spearheaded an aggressive antitrust campaign, targeting over three dozen merger proposals. While her efforts have drawn criticism from various business leaders, she has also garnered support from unexpected quarters, including some Republican representatives advocating for a stronger stance against corporate power.
As the FTC continues its battle against Big Tech, the future of privacy protections for American consumers remains uncertain.