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CFPB is questioning Big Tech about data usage

Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google got questions on the use of consumer data harvesting and other issues.

CFPB Director Rohit Chopra, then a commissioner at the FTC, listens during a hearing.

Rohit Chopra has been highly critical of Big Tech.

Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced Thursday it had issued orders for information to Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, PayPal and Square on their use of consumer data.

Questions will examine the use of data harvesting and monetization, and other consumer protection issues.

The CFPB's new director, Rohit Chopra, previously served as a Federal Trade Commissioner, where he was highly critical of Big Tech companies and their data practices. The CFPB said its move built on the FTC's "work to shed light on the business practices of the largest technology companies in the world."

The Wall Street Journal previously reported the orders.

This article was updated to reflect the CFPB's official announcement.

Ben Brody

Ben Brody (@ BenBrodyDC) is a senior reporter at Protocol focusing on how Congress, courts and agencies affect the online world we live in. He formerly covered tech policy and lobbying (including antitrust, Section 230 and privacy) at Bloomberg News, where he previously reported on the influence industry, government ethics and the 2016 presidential election. Before that, Ben covered business news at CNNMoney and AdAge, and all manner of stories in and around New York. He still loves appearing on the New York news radio he grew up with.

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