US demands data collection info from online giants

The US Federal Trade Commission on Monday sent orders to Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other internet giants demanding troves of information about their data collection, ad practices, and user engagement.

The orders endorsed by four of the five FTC commissions were sent under the authority of a federal act that lets the agency conduct studies for legislators to have on hand when crafting relevant laws.

The FTC issued orders for nine social media and video streaming companies, requiring them “to provide data on how they collect, use, and present personal information; their advertising and user engagement practices, and how their practices affect children and teens.”