WASHINGTON, D.C. – Internet for Growth, a nationwide coalition of small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups, is criticizing a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report labeling social media, streaming, digital advertising, and other online tools as “commercial surveillance.”
“Collecting customer information to improve products and services and advertise them is how businesses have been operating since before the internet. Today, the open, ad-supported internet enables even better communication between businesses and their customers, providing speed, customization, and personalization that millions of Americans enjoy, often for free,” said Brendan Thomas, Executive Director of Internet for Growth.
In remarks at an FTC public form today, he explained, “The FTC’s broad use of the term ‘commercial surveillance’ risks unfairly stigmatizing the internet – particularly digital advertising – which has unlocked new opportunities for millions of entrepreneurs. While it is essential to hold bad actors accountable, we urge the agency to avoid overreaching in a way that stifles innovation and mischaracterizes the internet as a threat to ordinary Americans.”
Today’s FTC report echoes themes in their announcement of Proposed Rulemaking on Commercial Surveillance and Data Security, which nearly 100 Internet for Growth members protested in a letter to FTC commissioners at the time.
“We share your view that privacy and security are vitally important in this digital age,” wrote Kareem Pritchett of KP Haulers in New Jersey and Ansley Schrimsher of Dora Mae Jewelry in Florida. “But we strongly disagree with the Commission’s blanket approach attacking the whole of the data-driven digital advertising ecosystem – which has delivered enormous economic benefits to consumers and businesses – instead of narrowly and carefully addressing specific abuses by bad actors.”
Brendan Thomas, Executive Director of Internet for Growth speaks at the FTC’s open meeting on Sept. 19th, 2024
Jake Kranz, a local marketing and advertising entrepreneur, recently wrote in the Minnesota Post, “While the FTC is concerned about limiting the power and control of the advertising giants, many small businesses are growing concerned about their future ability to keep the lights on should laws change… In reality, restrictions on digital data use puts more power into the hands of the large corporations who can afford to be less-targeted with their advertising.”
“Inflation is still a big issue for Americans. There have been downward revisions to jobs reports. The last thing the FTC should be doing is embarking on a risky experiment that would increase costs for small businesses and consumers,” added Thomas.