Groups Ask FTC to Launch Rulemaking on Civil Rights and Privacy
Forty-three groups, including Consumer Federation of America, have asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to launch a rulemaking to protect consumer privacy, promote civil rights, and set clear safeguards on the collection and use of personal data in the digital economy. The request comes on the heels of letter to FTC Chair Lina Kahn from several U.S. senators urging the agency “to exercise its rulemaking authority with respect to “unfair data collection and surveillance practices that may damage competition, consumer autonomy, and consumer privacy.” As the groups pointed out, companies’ use of personal data can enable and even perpetuate discriminatory practices against people of color, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, religious minorities, persons with disabilities, low-income people, immigrants and other marginalized groups.
