(WASHINGTON, DC, 4/12/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its counsel, the Communications & Technology Law Clinic (CTLC) at Georgetown University Law Center, today announced the filing of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaint over alleged deceptive and unfair practices used to extract personal data from Muslim app users for potential use in warrantless surveillance.
That announcement was made during a news conference this morning at CAIR’s Capitol Hill headquarters in Washington, D.C.
CAIR and CTLC are requesting that the FTC investigate and enforce “potential violations of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act across the location data industry.”
WATCH CAIR’S NEWS CONFERENCE:
https://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational/videos/650127559394581
READ THE FTC COMPLAINT:
https://www.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/FTCcomplaint.pdf
BACKGROUND:
Researchers and journalists have documented a pattern of deceptive and unfair practices designed to monetize the special value of location data that is specific to the Muslim community. This location data has special value because it facilitates warrantless surveillance of individuals historically targeted by law enforcement, the intelligence community and the military.
In 2020, the U.S. Special Operations Command admitted to purchasing the location data of users of a popular Muslim prayer app, Muslim Pro, and a Muslim dating app, Muslim Mingle.
And just last week, researchers identified a defense contractor’s “alternative monetization strategy” that appears to be premised on the special value governments assign to information about the religious beliefs and practices of Muslims.
CAIR says location tracking has had a disproportionate harmful impact on American Muslims, limiting both their First Amendment activity and their consumer choice. Given surveillance concerns, deceptive and unfair practices that have been adopted by many apps used by American Muslims chill the practice of religion and freedom of assembly, rights so fundamental they are protected by the First Amendment.
In general, these practices harm any consumer who uses a mobile device by leaving them unaware of the extent to which they are tracked, raising their risk of discriminatory targeted advertising, stalking, and unwarranted surveillance.
The FTC should use its enforcement authorities, including issuing warning letters, notices, and rules to combat the unfair and deceptive practices of the data location industry. To understand opaque areas of the industry, the FTC should conduct investigations to determine which actors are harming consumers and release any information that would be beneficial to the public.
CTLC works on matters at the intersection of law and technology. The clinic advocates on behalf of nonprofit organizations and individuals seeking to advance policies that promote the use of technologies to serve underrepresented groups.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR Senior Litigation Attorney Gadeir Abbas, 720-251-0425, gabbas@cair.com; CTLC Director Prof. Laura Moy, 202-662-9547, Laura.Moy@georgetown.edu; CTLC Teaching Fellow Victoria Tang, 202-662-9543, Victoria.Tang@georgetown.edu; CTLC Student Attorney Luke Evans, 614-564-7221, lse14+clinic@georgetown.edu; CTLC Student Attorney Quinten Stewart, 704-247-0030, qas8+clinic@georgetown.edu; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com; Georgetown Law Office of Communications, mediarelations@law.georgetown.edu