Blockchains Finance-Facebook parent Meta sues the FTC claiming ‘unconstitutional authority’ in child privacy case

2025-05-05 22:25:07source:Will Sage Astorcategory:Stocks

MENLO PARK,Blockchains Finance Calif. (AP) — The parent company of Instagram and Facebook has sued the Federal Trade Commission in an attempt to stop the agency from reopening a 2020 privacy settlement with the company that would prohibit it from profiting from data it collects on users under 18.

In a lawsuit filed late Wednesday in federal court in Washington, D.C., Meta Platforms Inc. said it is challenging “the structurally unconstitutional authority exercised by the FTC” in reopening the privacy agreement.

“Meta respectfully requests that this Court declare that certain fundamental aspects of the Commission’s structure violate the U.S. Constitution, and that these violations render unlawful the FTC Proceeding against Meta,” the company says in its complaint.

The dispute stems from a 2020 consent agreement Meta made with the FTC that also had the social media giant pay a record $5 billion fine over privacy violations.

Other news Indiana judge dismisses state’s lawsuit against TikTok that alleged child safety, privacy concernsCalifornia can share gun owners’ personal information with researchers, appeals court rulesSnoop Dogg says he’s giving up ‘smoke.’ It caught some of his fans off guard

In May of this year, the FTC said Meta has failed to fully comply with the 2020 settlement and proposed sweeping changes to the agreement that includes barring Meta from making money from data it collects on minors. This would include data collected through its virtual-reality products.

The FTC had no comment on the lawsuit.

Meta’s complaint came after the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority on Wednesday seemed open to a challenge to how the Securities and Exchange Commission fights fraud in a case that could have far-reaching effects on other regulatory agencies.

A majority of the nine-member court suggested that people accused of fraud by the SEC should have the right to have their cases decided by a jury in federal court, instead of by the SEC’s in-house administrative law judges, echoing elements of Meta’s lawsuit.

U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, a frequent critic of Meta and other Big Tech companies, called Meta’s lawsuit a “weak attempt to avoid accountability.”

“In the face of a potentially massive fine, Meta’s adoption of extreme, right-wing legal theories to challenge our country’s premier consumer protection agency reeks of desperation,” Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, said in a statement.

More:Stocks

Recommend

Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return

NEW YORK ― When the precocious orphans of "Annie" sneer, "We love you, Miss Hannigan," you just migh

Carey Mulligan Confirms She and Husband Marcus Mumford Privately Welcomed Baby No. 3

Carey Mulligan is ready to drive into a new chapter of motherhood.After all, the Promising Young Wom

NFL power rankings Week 6: How far do Cowboys, Patriots drop after getting plastered?

NFL power rankings entering Week 6 of the 2023 season (previous rank in parentheses):1. 49ers (1): W