Twitter received a fine for providing personal information of US users

US regulators cite statistics showing that in the five-year period through the end of 2019, more than 140 million Twitter users provided a phone number or email address to the social network. based in San Francisco (USA) to help secure two-factor accounts (two-factor authentication).

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the US Department of Justice accused Twitter of asking users to provide phone numbers or email addresses to reinforce security issues when operating on this online platform. But then, Twitter itself passes that information on to advertisers to screen target customers.

The settlement agreement between the US authorities and Twitter states that in addition to paying a fine of $ 150 million, the social network will take measures including regularly evaluating its privacy program through an audit. independent member.

In addition, the agreement also requires Twitter to notify everyone who joined the social network before the end of 2019 about its rules and options to protect user privacy.

Personal information that users transfer to companies technology and how these companies use them is still a matter of much debate between regulators and tech giants (Big Tech) like Meta (parent company of Facebook), Twitter and many others. another company.

Controversies over user privacy have led to periodic lawsuits or settlements, amid longstanding public calls for the authorities to comprehensively update national rules on how to treat users. online user data management.