Wicker Statement on FTC and Facebook Settlement

The settlement underlines the need for a strong federal data privacy law

July 24, 2019

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today issued the following statement after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a settlement with Facebook: 

“The settlement between the FTC and Facebook further stresses the need for a strong federal data privacy law. The details of Facebook’s conduct that were illuminated by the FTC’s investigation are troubling. This investigation and settlement, including a fine significantly larger than has ever been assessed by a privacy enforcer anywhere in the world, are examples of the great work the FTC can do. However, without a robust, comprehensive federal privacy law covering data collectors and consumers, bad actors will be able to continue to abuse data in the online marketplace.”

The committee exercises jurisdiction over the FTC and has been highly engaged on this issue throughout the investigation.

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