September 24, 2021

The American Civil Liberties Union and 26 other civil liberties and advocacy groups recently showed their massive support for the $1 billion FTC funding boost stating that the money will be crucial for the “under-funded and understaffed” agency created to protect consumers.

In the letter to Democratic and Republican leaders in both chambers of Congress, the groups noted, “This increased funding for the FTC is especially important because it will enable the Commission to protect people of color and low-income communities from identity theft, fraud, scams, and exploitation. Privacy rights help prevent people from being treated unfairly based on who they are — privacy rights are civil rights.”

The $1 billion funding in question is part of a $3.5 trillion social spending measure that will give the FTC financial power to set up an office dedicated to improving data security and privacy.

For more information, read the original story in Reuters.