Data Brokers: A Call For Transparency and Accountability: A Report of the Federal Trade Commission (May 2014)
governmentCredibility Rating
High quality. Established institution or organization with editorial oversight and accountability.
Rating inherited from publication venue: Federal Trade Commission
Foundational U.S. government document on commercial data privacy regulation; relevant to AI governance discussions around training data provenance, surveillance, and the regulatory environment for data-driven systems predating modern AI deployment concerns.
Metadata
Summary
This 2014 FTC report examines the largely opaque data broker industry, documenting how companies collect, aggregate, and sell vast amounts of consumer data with little transparency or consumer control. It calls on Congress to pass legislation requiring data brokers to disclose their practices, provide consumer access to their data, and allow corrections, establishing a foundational regulatory framework for commercial data privacy.
Key Points
- •Data brokers collect and sell detailed personal information on nearly every U.S. consumer with minimal consumer awareness or regulatory oversight.
- •The industry operates largely in the shadows—consumers have no direct relationship with brokers and often cannot access, correct, or opt out of their data profiles.
- •FTC recommends legislation requiring a centralized portal where consumers can identify data brokers holding their information and exercise opt-out rights.
- •Report distinguishes between data uses (marketing, risk mitigation, people-search) and recommends tailored protections based on sensitivity and potential for harm.
- •Highlights risks of data misuse including discriminatory targeting of vulnerable populations based on inferred sensitive attributes like financial distress or health conditions.
Cited by 1 page
| Page | Type | Quality |
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| AI-Powered Investigation | Capability | 40.0 |
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Data Brokers: A Call For Transparency and Accountability: A Report of the Federal Trade Commission (May 2014) | Federal Trade Commission Skip to main content The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site. The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Español Report Fraud Get Consumer Alerts Search the Legal Library Data Brokers: A Call For Transparency and Accountability: A Report of the Federal Trade Commission (May 2014) Tags: Consumer Protection Bureau of Consumer Protection Privacy and Security Consumer Privacy Credit Reporting May 2014 Documents File Data Brokers: A Call For Transparency and Accountability: A Report of the Federal Trade Commission (May 2014) (990.57 KB) Related Releases FTC Recommends Congress Require the Data Broker Industry to be More Transparent and Give Consumers Greater Control Over Their Personal Information Return to top
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