The warning comes as Washington intensifies efforts to challenge foreign regulations on online content and data, with U.S. officials confirming Britain’s recent withdrawal of a proposal that would have required Apple to create an encrypted data backdoor
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The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has raised concerns that global technology companies could risk violating American law if their efforts to comply with European and British digital regulations compromise privacy or data security for U.S. users.
FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson cautioned firms such as Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and several smaller platforms that foreign governments’ rules — including the European Union’s Digital Services Act and the UK’s Online Safety and Investigatory Powers Acts — might clash with U.S. standards. He argued that companies may be tempted to streamline operations by applying uniform policies worldwide, potentially eroding safeguards guaranteed under American law.
Balancing foreign compliance and U.S. privacy
Ferguson’s warning comes amid a broader push by Washington to counter overseas regulatory requirements targeting online content and data practices. Earlier this week, U.S. officials confirmed that Britain had withdrawn a proposal requiring Apple to create a “backdoor” into encrypted data, a move strongly opposed by American authorities.
Reports earlier this month also indicated that U.S. diplomats in Europe were instructed to lobby against the EU’s Digital Services Act, underscoring the administration’s determination to defend domestic legal principles.
To address these concerns directly, Ferguson has invited leaders from major tech firms, as well as platforms like X, Signal, and Slack, to meet with the FTC. Discussions are expected to focus on how companies intend to balance compliance with foreign governments while safeguarding U.S. privacy, security, and free expression.
