Twitter Agrees to Pay $150M Fine [for Selling Users Data to Advertisers]

Twitter Agrees to Pay $150 Million FTC Fine for Using Two Factor Authentication as Ruse to Sell Targeted User Data to Advertisers
May 25, 2022 | Sundance | 173 Comments

Today multiple media outlets are reporting the FTC and Twitter have agreed to a settlement where Twitter will pay a $150 million settlement for violating user privacy and selling user data. Twitter collected cell phone and email account information for users under the auspices of user security. However, Twitter actually planned to use the cell phone and email data to sell a more comprehensive package of user identification to advertisers.

~Snip~
Just as Sundance says...

Any engagement platform that asks you to enter your cell phone as part of the registration process is going to have the ability to sell your data and user identity to a third party. It really is that simple.

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2022/05/25/twitter-agrees-to-pay-150-million-ftc-fine-for-using-two-factor-authentication-as-ruse-to-sell-targeted-user-data-to-advertisers/

And this is why so many of us won't touch social media. Yes, some of us out here still highly value our privacy. It seems that we're about the last generation who has any of those left.

Something I'd like to know. What's with this, "Twitter agrees" to pay a fine?" If you get a speeding ticket, do you figure you'll get to go down to the court house and dicker w/the judge; then come to an agreement? (Actually, sounds kinda fun.) Seriously, though... Twitter broke the rules, and they get to decide on the fine? [No, not literally, but you, (hopefully), know what I mean.] Must be nice.

Drop in the bucket compared to what they made selling the info.

HawkTheSlayer wrote:Drop in the bucket compared to what they made selling the info.

Well, no kidding, but a little beside the point. Don't people get upset with businesses flat out lying to them anymore? Does no one value his privacy anymore? And since when does the perp get to choose the fine?!

Doesn't it piss you off that Twitter lied about "valuing your privacy," then turning around and selling that private info? And now millions of business know your likes and dislikes, where you live, your email addy, and your cell phone number.

I'd be fried.

And just for the sake of it; just where does that $150 million go? Along w/the $5 billion fine Fakebook "agreed" to pay?

2cent wrote:

HawkTheSlayer wrote:Drop in the bucket compared to what they made selling the info.

Well, no kidding, but a little beside the point.  Don't people get upset with businesses flat out lying to them anymore?  Does no one value his privacy anymore?  And since when does the perp get to choose the fine?!  

Doesn't it piss you off that Twitter lied about "valuing your privacy," then turning around and selling that private info?  And now millions of business know your likes and dislikes, where you live, your email addy, and your cell phone number.  

I'd be fried.

And just for the sake of it; just where does that $150 million go?  Along w/the $5 billion fine Fakebook "agreed" to pay?

I guess what I'm saying is , it's complete bullshit for the government to fine them and then get the money!!
Why not fine them and give the money to the people that were compromised?!

:thumbsup2:

HawkTheSlayer wrote:

2cent wrote:

HawkTheSlayer wrote:Drop in the bucket compared to what they made selling the info.

Well, no kidding, but a little beside the point.  Don't people get upset with businesses flat out lying to them anymore?  Does no one value his privacy anymore?  And since when does the perp get to choose the fine?!  

Doesn't it piss you off that Twitter lied about "valuing your privacy," then turning around and selling that private info?  And now millions of business know your likes and dislikes, where you live, your email addy, and your cell phone number.  

I'd be fried.

And just for the sake of it; just where does that $150 million go?  Along w/the $5 billion fine Fakebook "agreed" to pay?

I guess what I'm saying is , it's complete bullshit for the government to fine them and then get the money!!
Why not fine them and give the money to the people that were compromised?!

:thumbsup2:

Mr. 2 and I were saying the same thing. :thumbsup2:

I'd never give any of these companies my phone number but I've had the same email address for 20 years and when I was 'green' back then I gave it out a couple of times and am still spammed to this day.

Red Lily wrote:I'd never give any of these companies my phone number but I've had the same email address for 20 years and when I was 'green' back then I gave it out a couple of times and am still spammed to this day.

I go through 2-step verification often . But they already have my number to the phone and send verification codes there when I post from my tab or other device .
They don't ask for my number, but rather send the code there for me to enter into the request from the non phone.
Only AT&T asks me for this. Lol. And they already have the numbers to everything I own .
I guess it's good thing but a pita.

HawkTheSlayer wrote:

Red Lily wrote:I'd never give any of these companies my phone number but I've had the same email address for 20 years and when I was 'green' back then I gave it out a couple of times and am still spammed to this day.

I go through 2-step verification often . But they already have my number to the phone and send verification codes there when I post from my tab or other device .
They don't ask for my number, but rather send the code there for me to enter into the request from the non phone.
Only AT&T asks me for this. Lol. And they already have the numbers to everything I own .
I guess it's good thing but a pita.

I never have to verify anything when I post and like it that way Lol.

About the only time I ever have to verify something by code is if I've made a payment to someone and the bank is not sure if it's me.

Nuffin compared to the money paid someone(s) Bureau of Personnel Management when they sold the bios of the entire US Gov workforce including military background checks. I would venture that is partly how a former Pres making 300 K a year afforded homes on Marthas Vineyard, Hawaii and DC

I'm curios if this'll add to the iffyness of the Elon Musk buy. ??? Something tells me it's gonna crash & burn.