Twitter to pay $150 million for selling users data for Ads

[dothebeats]

These huge companies lie to their teeth even though they have legally sworn they will not do what they shouldn't do. Big companies will always find loopholes, legally or not, to have things their way and to make more profit off of their consumers without them knowing of what these huge companies are doing. IMO, $150m is not enough of a fine for selling users data. It should be more. Remember Google's $5b fine in EU? Not entirely similar case but the nature through which they took advantage of their users is very similar.

[justdimin]

Once personal data is shared, it should be considered to no longer be personal, regardless of what the other party claims they wish to use it for.
Data is one of the biggest markets and social platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Google and the rest have loads of it by collecting presumably harmless data to fulfil whatever sign up conditions they set. It has become so much of a norm now, users barely care what is collected and how it is used, or rather they fail to see any danger in their phone number, or web history being tracked and stored.

This is a trend that is not going to stop anytime soon, best to take precautions to protect yourself if you do not want your details shared.

Unfortunately, there are companies making billions off this situation and they are fine with it. Remember that before 2016 elections of trump, and even brexit, there were companies buying and selling data and using it to make sure that they got their candidate elected.

If they could convince their own view people to go out to vote in bunches, they did that via ads, if they could convince opponents people to stay home, they did that. They did everything they could, not just to convince people to vote for a candidate, but precise ads for each person in order to get the most optimum result for their candidate. This shows that these data could be used to literally rule the world.

[iv4n]

.... In this particular case, Twitter probably has made a lot more profits than the penalty amount ($150m) by selling their user data. So they can get away with it even after paying the fine and I am pretty sure they will come up with a creative way to avoid this penalty anyway.

It's what I was thinking too. This amount is just a slap in the wrist for these big platforms.

Where do these fines go by the way?

I read the article, I tried to search around, but I couldn't see anything about the profit they made! It's my first thought as well, if they need to pay a $150 million fine how much did they earn in the first place!? I guess we are talking about billions here...

These huge companies lie to their teeth even though they have legally sworn they will not do what they shouldn't do. Big companies will always find loopholes, legally or not, to have things their way and to make more profit off of their consumers without them knowing of what these huge companies are doing.

It's why I don't like KYC! It's why I don't leave my phone number everywhere... it's why we need privacy! I guess they would sell our asses just to make a profit, only if they could!

[TheNineClub]

In court documents made public on Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice say Twitter violated a 2011 agreement with regulators in which the company vowed to not use information gathered for security purposes, like users' phone numbers and email addresses, to help advertisers target people with ads.

Federal investigators say Twitter broke that promise.

"As the complaint notes, Twitter obtained data from users on the pretext of harnessing it for security purposes but then ended up also using the data to target users with ads," said FTC Chair Lina Khan.

Twitter broke their promise about how they collected their user data (email and phone number), they violated the agreement^[1] that was presented in the paperwork with the authorities back in 2011, and they have been charged and fined $150 million for selling it for Ads.
Similar organizations have exploited data in business, and many of them have always denied it to the public, but after further digging and investigation, the lies become burst into the public.

The fine itself seems like a slapp on the wrist and nothing more than that. For a number like that, twitter and other companies can afford to sell the data and pay the fines if the get caught. I mean, they made 5B dollars last year, so a couple of houndred mill here or there is just written of as bussiness expendeture at this point.

[Upgrade00]

This shows that these data could be used to literally rule the world.

Precisely.
During the era of door to door sales; salesmen have to knock on the doors of tens or hundreds of people, majority of who are not interested in the product being put on sale. Fast forward to today, companies can simply collect datat of what user searched for what product, or who said what in a conversation, market that data to retail services with location of the potential customers and this is just a pinch of what data could be used to do.

[Kavelj22]

is it possible for twitter to sell user data to third parties to achieve its career. I'm a little confused by this case where Twitter gets a lot of trust from users but still dares to violate user privacy by selling user data at will. Is there no party responsible for this incident so that users get comfort for the security of their data.

After all those hopes that the platform will achieve progress in spreading freedom of expression with the acquisition of a single mask and his promises to develop it.
It is truly a resounding surprise that such serious charges are being brought against him.

This is supposed to destroy its reputation, especially since it is not known the true amount of data that was used and whether this will not be repeated again in the future.

[Lanatsa]

This shows that these data could be used to literally rule the world.

Precisely.
During the era of door to door sales; salesmen have to knock on the doors of tens or hundreds of people, majority of who are not interested in the product being put on sale. Fast forward to today, companies can simply collect datat of what user searched for what product, or who said what in a conversation, market that data to retail services with location of the potential customers and this is just a pinch of what data could be used to do.

On the era on what we do have today where accessibility could really be done in almost instant then its no surprise that we would really be putting on a situation where data could really be used
into different aspects which it could really be putting them into advantage specially on having sales or connected to it.

Thats why any platform specially centralized ones couldn't really be trusted 100% when it comes to our information which it could be potentially be leaked or be used into other aspects
on which we are currently seeing on what Twitter is been doing.

For the sake of money then everyone or everything could really make a sudden turn without having doubts.

[eaLiTy]

~
I'm really interested in what the new T boss will do in this regard, especially when we know how much he paid for his new toy.

I hope Elon Musk will not entertain selling user information and i believe he purchased the toy to make changes to their business behavior especially how they are censoring users for their opinion. I am not a big time social media user even though i used when it started and i stopped because everything you get for free you need to sacrifice your privacy and data.

[uneng]

Promises and words uttered by social medias' managers mean nothing, because they are constantly changing their policies and terms of service. It's common to login into twitter or facebook accounts and have yourself freezed into a new agreement page where you have to say you accept the new terms imposed to you, as a platform's user. From months to months a new agreement is imposed by those platforms and I don't doubt between those little repetitive words there is something like "I agree you sell my personal data to whoever you want", although they are never going to defend a position like that publicly, so they need to play the good guys now saying they are very commited with the privacy of their users and wouldn't sell their data anymore.

That is ridiculous and revolting. The minimum twitter should do were to say to who they have sold data, for how much and provide a mechanism for every users to check if they had informations sold. Moreover, give the money they were paid to the people who had data leaked.

[crzy]

~
I'm really interested in what the new T boss will do in this regard, especially when we know how much he paid for his new toy.

I hope Elon Musk will not entertain selling user information and i believe he purchased the toy to make changes to their business behavior especially how they are censoring users for their opinion. I am not a big time social media user even though i used when it started and i stopped because everything you get for free you need to sacrifice your privacy and data.

The purchase is still not final as far as I know, Elon is playing with Twitter and tries to manipulate its value, most probably he will do the same thing. Many companies sells the data of the users and I wonder when the government will caught other social media companies, protecting the details of every user is a must, its just that there’s a big money for selling it and that’s why many are doing this.

[Johnyz]

This shows that these data could be used to literally rule the world.

Precisely.
During the era of door to door sales; salesmen have to knock on the doors of tens or hundreds of people, majority of who are not interested in the product being put on sale. Fast forward to today, companies can simply collect datat of what user searched for what product, or who said what in a conversation, market that data to retail services with location of the potential customers and this is just a pinch of what data could be used to do.

Confidential data should be more safe on a company like this but then again, they failed to do so and that’s why they are being fined by that huge amount of money. With the technology that we have right now, I think many of us are already exposed so better to use every security feature to assure that your personal account are more safe. Twitter is not the only company who are doing this, many are still have under the table transactions.

[CaVO32]

This shows that these data could be used to literally rule the world.

Precisely.
During the era of door to door sales; salesmen have to knock on the doors of tens or hundreds of people, majority of who are not interested in the product being put on sale. Fast forward to today, companies can simply collect datat of what user searched for what product, or who said what in a conversation, market that data to retail services with location of the potential customers and this is just a pinch of what data could be used to do.

Confidential data should be more safe on a company like this but then again, they failed to do so and that’s why they are being fined by that huge amount of money. With the technology that we have right now, I think many of us are already exposed so better to use every security feature to assure that your personal account are more safe. Twitter is not the only company who are doing this, many are still have under the table transactions.

High likely that it is not only twitter, only that they are being exposed. Other social media channels for sure are also guilty but they need to find evidence about the deception among its users. This is why I am not really into social media. You should limit your information that you share publicly, because this is where scammers also find their vulnerable victims. As much as possible, safeguard your privacy by not patronizing these social media channels. If you are just after for the likes of people, then, better not do it. They won't help you when you really need actual help.

[noorman0]

I remember the words somewhere, "if any company gives you completely free of charge to use their amazing service, you are actually their main product". As people think above, millions of user data is worth more than $150 million and that won't stop Twitter from continuing its mission.
I think I recognize the signs of a company that performs this operation, as they always ask for my up-to-date information which is not really needed.

[jrrsparkles]

Almost every tech companies are doing this so why the Twitter alone? No data we enter into the social media is safe anymore because we are their products and they make money by only selling our data to the advertisement companies so anyone who think they're at the safer platform then has to rethink about it but wait they are doing more worse than just selling our numbers and email which is the spying of all our activities because they have access to all the things from camera, microphone, file manager,etc...

[bitgov]

Almost every tech companies are doing this so why the Twitter alone? No data we enter into the social media is safe anymore because we are their products and they make money by only selling our data to the advertisement companies so anyone who think they're at the safer platform then has to rethink about it but wait they are doing more worse than just selling our numbers and email which is the spying of all our activities because they have access to all the things from camera, microphone, file manager,etc...

Once I watched a video in which the judge asked Mark Zuckerberg - he asked Mark - would you like to tell public in which restaurant you ate last night and where did you go last week? He said No, the judged said why are you making people's information public than? So they want different rules for themselves and other rules for public.

[Leviathan.007]

Can't be really surprised when a big company and organization gives some promises but in the end, they forget everything and break all the promises they gave to their clients. While some people are thinking most of the great and famous companies will neer abuse the data they get from the users the companies all always thinking about how you abuse their users and milk more money from them or from their information, In is case apologizing will never solve anything however it was a good a memorable lesson for many people about sharing their personal information on the social media, these nowadays data is the most valuable thing on the internet and surly for any company that's not really unexpecting to abuse the data they collect from the users.

[jrrsparkles]

Almost every tech companies are doing this so why the Twitter alone? No data we enter into the social media is safe anymore because we are their products and they make money by only selling our data to the advertisement companies so anyone who think they're at the safer platform then has to rethink about it but wait they are doing more worse than just selling our numbers and email which is the spying of all our activities because they have access to all the things from camera, microphone, file manager,etc...

Once I watched a video in which the judge asked Mark Zuckerberg - he asked Mark - would you like to tell public in which restaurant you ate last night and where did you go last week? He said No, the judged said why are you making people's information public than? So they want different rules for themselves and other rules for public.

Well in the Facebook he created an environment where people are addicted to it to expose themselves for likes and to satisfy their goals they start to expose everything as much as they can and Facebook just helped the people to organise it so they can sell for better prices and also concentrated data. Already Facebook and other tech companies sued by lot of cases on different countries and also many of them even make them to pay in Billion still they can operate after simply paying the fine.

[avikz]

Almost every tech companies are doing this so why the Twitter alone? No data we enter into the social media is safe anymore because we are their products and they make money by only selling our data to the advertisement companies so anyone who think they're at the safer platform then has to rethink about it but wait they are doing more worse than just selling our numbers and email which is the spying of all our activities because they have access to all the things from camera, microphone, file manager,etc...

Once I watched a video in which the judge asked Mark Zuckerberg - he asked Mark - would you like to tell public in which restaurant you ate last night and where did you go last week? He said No, the judged said why are you making people's information public than? So they want different rules for themselves and other rules for public.

Well in the Facebook he created an environment where people are addicted to it to expose themselves for likes and to satisfy their goals they start to expose everything as much as they can and Facebook just helped the people to organise it so they can sell for better prices and also concentrated data. Already Facebook and other tech companies sued by lot of cases on different countries and also many of them even make them to pay in Billion still they can operate after simply paying the fine.

They have no other choice but to continue this practice. Data is the most valuable commodity at today's date. Big companies like Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram will shut down if they are not allowed to use their user's data.

Try using Facebook's Business manager and try setting up an advertisement. You will understand how specific selections you can make. That is a goldmine for the businesses who can target specific user class for their business which will give them great result. So next time if you see a digital platform offering their platform for free, you must know that you will be paying through your data.

[milewilda]

Almost every tech companies are doing this so why the Twitter alone? No data we enter into the social media is safe anymore because we are their products and they make money by only selling our data to the advertisement companies so anyone who think they're at the safer platform then has to rethink about it but wait they are doing more worse than just selling our numbers and email which is the spying of all our activities because they have access to all the things from camera, microphone, file manager,etc...

Once I watched a video in which the judge asked Mark Zuckerberg - he asked Mark - would you like to tell public in which restaurant you ate last night and where did you go last week? He said No, the judged said why are you making people's information public than? So they want different rules for themselves and other rules for public.

Well in the Facebook he created an environment where people are addicted to it to expose themselves for likes and to satisfy their goals they start to expose everything as much as they can and Facebook just helped the people to organise it so they can sell for better prices and also concentrated data. Already Facebook and other tech companies sued by lot of cases on different countries and also many of them even make them to pay in Billion still they can operate after simply paying the fine.

They have no other choice but to continue this practice. Data is the most valuable commodity at today's date. Big companies like Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram will shut down if they are not allowed to use their user's data.

Try using Facebook's Business manager and try setting up an advertisement. You will understand how specific selections you can make. That is a goldmine for the businesses who can target specific user class for their business which will give them great result. So next time if you see a digital platform offering their platform for free, you must know that you will be paying through your data.

Would really be just that common sense that they would really be using something to monetize and since its also a business then its understandable with that kind of probability on using up those
precious user's data and there's nothing we can do with it and if you dont like that of practice then you could leave anytime and find another else but since its one of the most famous
social media platform then you won't really be having any choice but to accept on what are the things that they could possibly do in the future and just like this one where users
data is been sold, so better take a good grasp on it.

[Wakate]

This is a good move to me because Twitter had been into this for long and they needed to be prosecuted with huge fines that is more than what had been presented in the court of law. I hope this will limit Twitter when it comes to sharing  the privacy of users during ads uses. I think Twitter is not left out here alone but also other social media like Facebook, Instagram etc. It is obvious that there are still other privacy matters like this one that need to be unvealed to the public. The government have to be very serious about this so it will prevent contineous occurrence.