US FTC Warns Tech Firms Not to Weaken Data Privacy to Comply with EU, UK Laws

FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson warned tech firms that complying with EU and UK digital content laws could violate US law if they weaken privacy and data security protections for American users. He expressed concerns about the EU Digital Services Act, UK Online Safety Act, and UK Investigatory Powers Act, and called for tech giants to meet with him to discuss balancing US compliance with foreign pressures.

U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Andrew Ferguson has issued a stern warning to major tech companies, including Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta, against weakening data privacy and security protections for American users to comply with European and British digital content laws. Ferguson expressed his concerns in letters to these companies, highlighting the potential conflict between U.S. laws and foreign regulations [1][2][3].

The EU Digital Services Act, UK Online Safety Act, and UK Investigatory Powers Act are aimed at curbing illegal content online by monitoring user ages, regulating platforms, and implementing protective measures. However, these laws have faced backlash from users due to their perceived infringement on privacy and data security [3]. Ferguson worries that companies may simplify their operations by applying uniform policies across jurisdictions, which could potentially undermine U.S. consumer protections [1][2].

In his letters, Ferguson called for a meeting with the tech giants to discuss how they plan to balance U.S. compliance with the competing pressures from abroad. He emphasized that foreign governments seeking to limit free expression or weaken data security in the United States might count on companies' incentives to simplify operations and legal compliance measures [1][2][3].

The warning from Ferguson comes at a time when the U.S. is actively pushing back against foreign regulatory requirements, as seen in the recent withdrawal of a U.K. request to access encrypted data from Apple’s U.S. users [1]. The U.S. Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, stated that the U.K. has agreed to drop its mandate for Apple to provide a 'back door' that would have enabled access to the protected encrypted data of American citizens [1].

In response to the FTC's warning, tech companies are likely to reassess their compliance strategies with EU and UK laws, ensuring that they do not violate U.S. data protection regulations. This situation underscores the complex interplay between international laws and the need for tech companies to navigate regulatory environments while maintaining user trust and data security [1][2][3].

References:
[1] https://macdailynews.com/2025/08/21/u-s-ftc-chairman-warns-apple-other-tech-firms-not-to-weaken-data-privacy-to-comply-with-eu-uk-laws/
[2] https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/ftc-chair-warns-tech-firms-not-weaken-data-privacy-comply-with-eu-uk-laws-2025-08-21/
[3] https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/46485/ftc-chair-warns-us-big-tech-on-complying-with-uk-and-eu-online-safety-acts