Meta clashes with US FTC over proposed changes to 2020 privacy agreement

Meta Platforms is pushing back against the US Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) efforts to amend a 2020 privacy settlement.

Meta maintains that it had voluntarily informed the agency about two technical glitches associated with its Messenger Kids app.

According to Meta's filing on Thursday, the company disclosed these bugs back in July 2019.

Moreover, Meta highlighted that it has invested$5.5 billion in its privacy program and various related initiatives.

The FTC has not yet provided any comments in response to Reuters' inquiries regarding this matter.

The focal point of contention revolves around a 2020 privacy settlement with Facebook, aimed at prohibiting the monetisation of minors' data and imposing stricter limits on facial recognition technology.

The FTC has expressed its intent to refine this existing agreement, accusing Meta of providing misleading information to parents about child protection measures.

Earlier in March, a US appeals court made a ruling, indicating that Meta cannot prevent the FTC from reopening an investigation into Facebook's privacy practices.

This decision came in spite of Meta's arguments that it had already paid $5 billion fine and had consented to a variety of protective measures.

Meta has consistently denied allegations of deceiving parents regarding privacy risks.

Last November, the company filed a lawsuit against the FTC.

This legal challenge was framed as a broad constitutional issue, questioning the FTC's dual role as both an investigative entity and an adjudicative one.

(With inputs from Reuters)