Facebook blocks research into political ads, falsely blames FTC privacy order
When Facebook disabled the accounts of New York University researchers who were investigating misinformation and political ads on the platform, the social-media giant claimed it did so to comply with a consent decree that it previously agreed to with the Federal Trade Commission.
The FTC order did require Facebook to create a privacy program, but there was no requirement that would have forced Facebook to shut down the NYU research project. Despite that, Facebook’s statement that it suspended the accounts “in line with our privacy program under the FTC Order” conveys the false message that Facebook had no choice in the matter.
Source: Facebook blocks research into political ads, falsely blames FTC privacy order | Ars Technica
