WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV released this statement following the announcement of the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) enforcement action against Facebook:  

“Consumer privacy is a right, not a luxury.  With today’s settlement, Facebook agrees to end deceptive practices and undergo rigorous oversight.  But this action against Facebook is just the first step toward protecting consumer privacy.  Ultimately, I believe legislation is needed that empowers consumers to protect their personal information from companies surreptitiously collecting and using that personal information for profit.  It’s unacceptable for any company, including Facebook, to change customer privacy settings without their knowledge or consent, especially a company with 800 million users.  I commend the way the FTC has used its enforcement authority to improve protections for consumers in an ever-evolving online and mobile world.”

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