This website collects cookies to deliver better user experience. Cookie Policy
Accept
Sign In
The Wall Street Publication
  • Home
  • Trending
  • U.S
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Markets
    • Personal Finance
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Style
    • Arts
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Reading: Twitter to Pay $150 Million Privacy Fine as Elon Musk Deal Looms
Share
The Wall Street PublicationThe Wall Street Publication
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • Trending
  • U.S
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Markets
    • Personal Finance
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Style
    • Arts
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 The Wall Street Publication. All Rights Reserved.
The Wall Street Publication > Blog > Tech > Twitter to Pay $150 Million Privacy Fine as Elon Musk Deal Looms
Tech

Twitter to Pay $150 Million Privacy Fine as Elon Musk Deal Looms

Editorial Board Published May 26, 2022
Share
Twitter to Pay 0 Million Privacy Fine as Elon Musk Deal Looms
SHARE

Twitter Inc. on Wednesday agreed to new oversight and a $150 million penalty to settle a federal privacy suit, the first major deal between a large tech company and the Biden administration Federal Trade Commission, which has pledged to more aggressively police data abuses.

Contents
FTC head Lina Khan last year.Newsletter Sign-upWSJ Pro CybersecurityMore From WSJ Pro Cybersecurity

Federal prosecutors alleged that Twitter collected phone numbers and email addresses for account security measures and then fed the information into its advertising tools, an additional use of the data the government said it failed to disclose. The alleged activity violated a 2011 consent order between the FTC and Twitter that barred it from misrepresenting how it used individuals’ contact information.

FTC head Lina Khan last year.

Photo: Graeme Jennings/Press Pool

FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan, appointed by President Biden last year, has promised expansive use of her agency’s power to scrutinize companies’ data practices and potentially bar certain behaviors.

The pending Twitter settlement, rather than exploring new ground, suggests an extension of how previous administrations used existing enforcement authorities, current and former officials say.

“This is very much a continuation. But this is a strong order,” said Jessica Rich, a former director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection who now works for law firm Kelley Drye & Warren LLP. Ms. Rich, who helped put together the 2011 consent order Twitter allegedly violated, said the new order contains provisions that are “much more robust.”

Between 2013 and 2019, Twitter told users that it was collecting their information to enable multifactor authentication measures on their accounts, according to a Justice Department complaint filed on behalf of the FTC. The company didn’t properly notify users that it was then using the information to help sell ads.


Newsletter Sign-up

WSJ Pro Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity news, analysis and insights from WSJ’s global team of reporters and editors.


The allegedly deceptive behavior affected up to 140 million people, according to a statement from the FTC, which began its probe during the Trump administration.

In a blog post Wednesday, Twitter Chief Privacy Officer Damien Kieran said that user data “may have been inadvertently used for advertising” and that the company resolved the issue in 2019.

As part of the settlement, he said, “we have aligned with the agency on operational updates and program enhancements to ensure that people’s personal data remains secure and their privacy protected.”

The deal comes as Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk pursues a $44 billion takeover of Twitter. The settlement’s $150 million civil penalty represents about 3% of Twitter’s revenue in 2021.

The FTC order also requires Twitter to notify affected consumers, alert the FTC of future data breaches and undergo independent security audits every other year for the next two decades. The company must provide users multi-factor authentication options that don’t rely on phone numbers, a provision that the FTC has begun pushing this year.

The FTC approved the settlement by a unanimous 4-0 vote.

The deal echoes the FTC’s $5 billion penalty against Meta Platforms Inc. in 2020 for allegedly violating a consent order through deceptive practices such as using personal information from security features to sell ads. The company, formerly known as Facebook, didn’t admit to any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

Ms. Khan has said she hopes to write privacy rules to bar companies from certain data uses and give her agency authority to levy such fines on first offense. Current and former officials warn the effort would prove to be a resource-intensive process that faces legal hurdles.

Ms. Khan and Democratic FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter renewed their calls for privacy rules in a statement on Wednesday. Fellow Democrat Alvaro Bedoya was sworn in as an FTC commissioner this month after a lengthy confirmation process, giving their party the majority to push ahead with such regulation.

“In the meantime, we must also hold companies accountable for violating existing laws, including through deceptive disclosures,” Ms. Khan and Ms. Slaughter said in the statement.

More From WSJ Pro Cybersecurity

Write to David Uberti at [email protected]

Copyright ©2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

TAGGED:Tech NewsWall Street Publication
Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Die-Hard Tesla Owners Are in a Heated Race—With No End in Sight Die-Hard Tesla Owners Are in a Heated Race—With No End in Sight
Next Article Broadcom to Buy VMware for  Billion Broadcom to Buy VMware for $61 Billion

Editor's Pick

California dwelling of lacking child’s mother and father searched; father has served time for youngster cruelty

California dwelling of lacking child’s mother and father searched; father has served time for youngster cruelty

San Bernardino County sheriff’s investigators on Sunday, Aug. 17, searched the house of the mother and father of the infant…

By Editorial Board 9 Min Read
Farmer Needs a Spouse: John Sansone and Claire Dinette Break up!
Farmer Needs a Spouse: John Sansone and Claire Dinette Break up!

Studying Time: 2 minutes It's sadly over for one more actuality tv…

4 Min Read
Meri Brown Hints at “Accusations, Heartbreak” in Instagram Publish
Meri Brown Hints at “Accusations, Heartbreak” in Instagram Publish

Studying Time: 3 minutes Meri Brown seems to be going via it…

5 Min Read

Oponion

Trump commerce conflict: How UK figures present his tariff argument would not add up | Cash Information

Trump commerce conflict: How UK figures present his tariff argument would not add up | Cash Information

As Chancellor Rachel Reeves meets her counterpart, US treasury secretary…

April 26, 2025

Trump would not need Apple making iPhones in India: ‘I had somewhat drawback with Tim Prepare dinner’

 Moffettnathanson Analysis co-founder and senior analyst…

May 15, 2025

Airplane with 10 on board goes lacking over Alaska

Crews in Alaska are looking for…

February 7, 2025

Monitoring of Trump Internet Traffic Sparks New Dispute in Durham Probe

WASHINGTON—Legal memos filed in recent days…

February 16, 2022

JPMorgan expands prosperous banking community with 14 new monetary facilities

Nationwide Committee for Non secular Freedom…

May 28, 2025

You Might Also Like

Selecting the Proper MacBook Is not As Troublesome As You Would possibly Suppose
Tech

Selecting the Proper MacBook Is not As Troublesome As You Would possibly Suppose

The larger change is in what number of exterior shows the M3 MacBook Air can help. Whereas the M4 mannequin…

29 Min Read
Our Editors’ Favourite Large Display screen Chromebook Is Now 9
Tech

Our Editors’ Favourite Large Display screen Chromebook Is Now $159

Again to high school is at all times a good time to choose up a deal on a brand new…

2 Min Read
The Rad ‘Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3+4’ Remasters Are  Off Proper Now
Tech

The Rad ‘Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3+4’ Remasters Are $15 Off Proper Now

In search of a wholesome dose of gaming nostalgia? It can save you $15 on Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3+4,…

3 Min Read
The Finest Paper Planners Our Editors Use to Set up Their Lives
Tech

The Finest Paper Planners Our Editors Use to Set up Their Lives

There's nothing like the sensation of a brand-new planner. As the brand new faculty yr kicks off, we have discovered…

32 Min Read
The Wall Street Publication

About Us

The Wall Street Publication, a distinguished part of the Enspirers News Group, stands as a beacon of excellence in journalism. Committed to delivering unfiltered global news, we pride ourselves on our trusted coverage of Politics, Business, Technology, and more.

Company

  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • WP Creative Group
  • Accessibility Statement

Contact

  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability

Term of Use

  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices

© 2024 The Wall Street Publication. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?