US Fair Trade commission (FTC) has requested social media
firms, including Facebook, on information about how they use users’ personal data, Reuters reported on Monday.

The firms thus requested by the agency included Google, Twitter,
Snapchat, Facebook-owned WhatsApp, TikTok, Amazon Inc, Reddit Inc, Discord Inc,
and Google subsidiary YouTube, besides Facebook.

The agency has asked the firms information on algorithms and how the
users’ personal data is used by these firms to leverage for advertisement.

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 It is also seeking information about how the
companies’ practices affect children and teenagers.

The companies have 45 days to respond to the orders, which
are usually used to generate policy or recommend legislation, Reuters reported.

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The decision has come on the heels of an antitrust lawsuit
against Facebook filed on Wednesday by the FTC and attorneys of more than a
dozen US states.

The social media giant is accused of anti-competition
practices and thwarting benefits of a competitive market which should be
enjoyed by the users.