Twitter may face a $250mn FTC fine for alleged misuse of user data

Twitter has disclosed that it may end up paying up to $250 million as fine to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in a probe pertaining to improper use of users’ phone numbers and email addresses for advertising gains.

On July 28, the company received a draft complaint from the FTC alleging violations of Twitter’s 2011 consent order with the FTC not to mislead consumers about how it protects their personal information.

“The allegations relate to the Company’s use of phone number and/or email address data provided for safety and security purposes for targeted advertising during periods between 2013 and 2019,” Twitter said its second quarter financial filing on Monday.