FTC Probe of Online Ad Industry Sought by Democrats, Republicans

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers have requested the FTC investigate allegations that online ad companies are violating consumers’ privacy.

• Sen. Ron Wyden, top Finance Cmte Democrat, Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, and eight other lawmakers ask FTC to investigate the practice of real-time-bidding, or when an Internet user’s web browsing, location and other information is auctioned off to potential bidders without the consumer knowing
• The lawmakers are particularly concerned about the tracking of Americans at places of worship and protests and then the selling of that information to advertisers, hedge funds and the government, according to news release ...