A combative session between House Republicans and Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan took place Thursday over the agency’s recent probe into Twitter’s privacy practices.
Khan appeared before the House Judiciary Committee on July 13, where Committee Chair Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and other Republicans on the panel challenged the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) probe, suggesting the agency had a political agenda.
Before the hearing, FTC failed to comply with a subpoena for documents related to the agency’s investigation of Twitter, which a press release from the House Committee called “unacceptable.”
Khan argued that FTC investigations are confidential and that the agency “will continue to faithfully discharge our statutory obligations and enforce the law without fear or favor,” according to The Wall Street Journal.
FTC has been looking into Twitter’s privacy practices for any potential breach of a 2011 agreement the social media company made with the federal agency.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the agreement required Twitter to inform its users how it kept user data secure after alleged lapses in data security allowed hackers to gain access. The company also had to agree to an independent data-security assessment for 10 years and agree to make necessary disclosures to users about their data for 20 years.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the agreement required Twitter to inform its users how it kept user data secure after alleged lapses in data security allowed hackers to gain access. The company also had to agree to an independent data-security assessment for 10 years and agree to make necessary disclosures to users about their data for 20 years.
“This motion asks the Court to rein in an investigation that has spiraled out of control and become tainted by bias, and to terminate a misfit consent order that no longer can serve any proper equitable purpose,” the court filing reads.
It also referred to the FTC’s conduct as “harassment” with regard to CEO Elon Musk, citing a House committee report published in May that said the agency seemed to be waging a campaign “to target Twitter and silence Musk.”
The accusation was repeated during the heated hearing on Thursday, with Jordan reportedly asking Khan, “Why are you harassing Twitter?”
She responded by claiming FTC and Twitter had a long history due to the company’s previously “lax security and privacy policies,” according to Fox News
Khan was also questioned about another claim made by House Republicans that FTC was targeting Musk because he reinstated conservative Twitter accounts, including that of former President Donald Trump.
“Is your attack on Twitter — harassment on Twitter — is that based on the fact that all kinds of Democrats have asked you to do this and, frankly, some things that you’ve written about dealing with ‘disinformation.’ Does that have anything to do with it?” Jordan asked Khan, Fox News reported.
“Congressman, we make only independent determinations about whether there were law violations,” Khan claimed, denying the allegation of being pressured by Democratic lawmakers.