FTC cites vulnerabilities from ‘lax security’ in proposal to address commercial surveillance practices

The Federal Trade Commission has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking seeking input on potential rules “to crack down on harmful commercial surveillance and lax data security,” citing numerous issues of concern around processes that collect and analyze consumer data, including vulnerability to hackers.

“Commercial surveillance is the business of collecting, analyzing, and profiting from information about people. Mass surveillance has heightened the risks and stakes of data breaches, deception, manipulation, and other abuses,” the FTC said in a...