ACLU, 26 other groups support $1 billion boost for FTC privacy work

FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen at the Federal Trade Commission headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 29, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The American Civil Liberties Union and 26 other civil rights and advocacy groups wrote to top lawmakers Thursday to urge support for a $1 billion boost in funding for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which is included in a $3.5 trillion spending proposal.

In the letter to Democratic and Republican leaders of both Houses of Congress, the groups said the money would be a boon to the "under-funded and understaffed" agency, which was created to protect consumers.