On July 2, 2026, the deadline for public comments on the future of the Federal Trade Commission's oversight of Elon Musk's X platform passed. Privacy advocates submitted strong remarks, urging the agency to reject Musk's request to terminate independent audits of user data handling. According to supporters, X still poses a serious risk to Americans' privacy.
Musk's request to end audits
Last month, the FTC posted a notice explaining that X had argued that the consent order was no longer necessary due to changes Musk made to the platform after the acquisition. The original order was issued as a penalty after a coding error caused improper sharing of user contact information for ad targeting, data initially provided for two-factor authentication. The agreement imposed costly independent audits on X and gave the FTC authority to demand documents without further legal action.
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Privacy risks according to activists
Privacy advocates argue that Musk, with his aggressive approach to monetizing data to fuel his artificial intelligence, has made X even riskier. The platform, now called X, has changed privacy policies and introduced features such as training data for AI models. Critics fear that without strict oversight, user data could be misused. Many recall previous episodes such as iOS 27's integrated protection against scams, which shows how technology can be used to defend privacy, while X seems to do the opposite.
Legal implications and the FTC's stance
The FTC has a duty to protect consumers. If it grants Musk's request, it would set a dangerous precedent: companies could ask for investigations to be closed simply by claiming they have fixed the problems. Experts in digital advertising emphasize that user trust is paramount. Without oversight, X could revert to non-compliant data use, with serious legal and reputational consequences. The FTC's decision is expected in the coming weeks and could impact the entire social media industry.
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According to sources close to the agency, the FTC is carefully considering the comments. Privacy advocates also cited the evolution of privacy policies in the United States, stressing the need to maintain surveillance. The agency may impose new conditions to ensure X complies with privacy laws, even though the platform claims it has already implemented robust security measures.
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The future of oversight on X
The legal battle between Musk and the FTC is only beginning. While X pushes for autonomy, advocacy groups call for stricter supervision, reminding that data protection is not an option but a right. The outcome of this case could redefine the relationship between digital platforms and regulators, not only for X but for the entire social media landscape. Next week, X's rebuttals are expected, while the FTC will decide whether to grant a public hearing.
