FTC lifts veil on data collection

Global Business

After an 18-month investigation the Federal Trade Commission has come out with a report detailing the ways in which personal information is being collected, organized and disseminated by data brokers.

But despite the lengthy report much remains unknown about this growing industry. They’re hardly household names but the Federal Trade Commission thinks they should be. They are just three of nine data brokers investigated by the Commission.

Chairwoman, Edith Ramirez said: “Data brokers often know as much or even more about us than our family and friends.”

Brokers collect data from social networking sites, web searches, online and offline purchases and public records. They then analyze and categorize the data effectively making very detailed profiles on consumers. That data is then sold to marketers.

Jonathan Hood is an attorney who works on privacy policies for corporate clients. The report did not find any unlawful activity but Hood says the worry is that there is the potential for companies to discriminate against certain groups of people.

CCTV’s Karina Huber reports.

FTC lifts veil on data collection

After an 18-month investigation the Federal Trade Commission has come out with a report detailing the ways in which personal information is being collected, organized and disseminated by data brokers.

Allan Friedman, Visiting Scholar at the Cyber Security Policy Research Institute, joins Michelle Makori for an analysis of data brokers and the FTC.

Allan Friedman on data brokers and the FTC

Allan Friedman, Visiting Scholar at the Cyber Security Policy Research Institute, joins Michelle Makori for an analysis of data brokers and the FTC.