US FTC looking at rules to corral tech firms’ data collection

Khan, who was an outspoken critic of Big Tech as a law professor, was appointed by US President Joe Biden last year to head the FTC – an independent agency that polices competition and consumer protection as well as digital privacy. — AP

WASHINGTON: Whether it’s the fitness tracker on your wrist, the “smart” home appliances in your house or the latest kids’ fad going viral in online videos, they all produce a trove of personal data for big tech companies.

How that data is being used and protected has led to growing public concern and officials’ outrage. And now federal regulators are looking at drafting rules to crack down on what they call harmful commercial surveillance and lax data security.