Privacy advocates are warning the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that Elon Musk’s X platform continues to pose a serious risk to Americans’ privacy. Ahead of a July 2 deadline to submit public comments, these groups are urging the agency to keep a close watch on X and firmly reject the company’s recent bid to end the FTC’s ongoing audits of its data handling practices.
Why Advocates Say X Is Still a Privacy Risk
According to Ars Technica, advocates argue that “X Corp. and its current leadership present a serious risk to Americans' privacy and data security, demonstrating the need for continued FTC oversight.” They believe that the changes Musk has made to the platform have not resolved the underlying privacy concerns.
X’s Bid to End FTC Oversight
Last month, the FTC posted a notice explaining that X had argued the FTC order was no longer necessary. The company claimed that changes Musk made to the platform had addressed the issues that led to the original order. However, advocates strongly disagree with this position.
The initial FTC order came as a penalty after the agency found that a coding error had caused then-Twitter to improperly share users’ contact information. This data had been submitted for two-factor authentication but was instead used for ad targeting without users’ consent.
What the FTC Order Requires
Under the current order, X is subjected to costly independent audits to ensure it is following data privacy laws. The FTC also has the authority to demand documents from X to verify compliance. Advocates argue that this oversight is still necessary to protect user data.
Our Take: The FTC Must Stay Vigilant
In our view, the advocates are right to be concerned. When a platform has a history of misusing sensitive user data — like contact information meant for security purposes — it is reasonable to question whether changes in leadership truly fix the problem. The FTC’s role is to protect consumers, and ending oversight too early could put millions of Americans at risk. The agency should carefully consider these warnings before making any decision on X’s request.
