FTC asks Americans whether new privacy rules are needed

The FTC is asking the American population whether consumer privacy in the commercial sphere is sufficiently guaranteed through a survey. The watchdog wants to check whether the population is aware of how their data is collected and whether stricter laws are needed.

The Federal Trade Commission refers in his research to the physical, economic, psychological and social risks that an American consumer can run because of data collected by companies and its use. It also mentions practices of some companies that supposedly collect data for a single purpose, but in practice use this information for multiple purposes. The watchdog also writes about the lack of choice consumers are presented with in connection with providing their information.

It is for that and other reasons that the FTC is now introducing an investigation. The results can be used in adapted legislation. For example, the FTC asks about any harm that consumers have suffered from the collection of data by companies and about harm that is difficult to quantify. In another question, the FTC considers whether certain types of data should be subject to regulation. It gives privacy-sensitive data as an example, but leaves the population free to make suggestions.

The chairman of the FTC writes in a separate statement that companies collect personal data from consumers on a very large scale and in very different contexts. With this research she wants to better map public opinion and with the results the watchdog wants to check whether new legislation is actually necessary.