Pai Defers to FTC to Investigate Claims Cambridge Analytica Bought Data From Likes of Dish, TiVo

The FCC is deferring to the FTC to investigate reports that comScore, Dish Network and TiVo may have sold data on subscribers’ viewing habits to already-embattled political data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a letter to Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., released Friday. Dingell asked Pai in early April to open an investigation into the claims, citing existing federal scrutiny of Cambridge Analytica over its alleged misuse of Facebook users’ private information. The FTC is doing a nonpublic investigation into whether Facebook violated its 2011 privacy consent decree because of Cambridge Analytica’s actions (see 1803260039). “Given the specific protections laid out under the Communications Act and the troubling scope of the recent revelations regarding Cambridge Analytica, I believe the [FCC] should bring its investigatory resources to bear to protect consumers' privacy,” Dingell told Pai. The FCC has “limited authority” to investigate Dingell’s claims given “neither TiVo nor [c]omScore is a satellite or cable operator and it is unclear” whether Dish shared individual personally identifiable information, Pai responded: “As our nation’s premier privacy cop on the beat, the FTC has already announced” its investigation of Facebook’s actions, so Dingell’s claims about other company’s dealings with Cambridge Analytica could fit into their proceeding. “I am sure this inquiry will be in good hands, given our sister agency’s well-established record of protecting consumers’ privacy and mandate to examine potentially unfair and deceptive practices,” Pai said. “We need regulators who will follow their obligations under the law and conduct thorough investigations instead of passing the buck,” Dingell said in a statement.