The Federal Trade Commission is asking some of the world’s biggest social media and streaming video giants to hand over information regarding their privacy and data practices.

The FTC has issued orders to Amazon, Facebook, TikTok owner ByteDance, YouTube, Twitter, Snap, Discord and WhatsApp asking for a variety of information, including how they collect personal data; how they determine what ads are shown to consumers; whether algorithms or other analytics are applied to personal information; how they measure user engagement; and how their practices impact children and teenagers.

The orders were filed pursuant to Section 6(b) of the FTC Act, which gives the FTC the authority “to conduct wide-ranging studies that do not have a specific law enforcement purpose.”

The Commission voted 4-1 to send the letters, with Republican commissioner Noah Joshua Phillips the lone “no” vote.

These types of studies, while not necessarily tied to specific investigations, can lead to more formal inquiries down the line, depending on what information is uncovered in the course of the study. The companies will have 45 days to submit the information requested by the FTC.

“The Commission’s 6(b) study will lift the hood on the social media and video streaming firms to carefully study their engines,” said FTC commissioners Rebecca Slaughter, Christine Wilson and Rohit Chopra, in a statement. “Policymakers and the public are in the dark about what social media and video streaming services do to capture and sell users’ data and attention. It is alarming that we still know so little about companies that know so much about us.”

“The breadth of the inquiry, the tangential relationship of its parts, and the dissimilarity of the recipients combine to render these orders unlikely to produce the kind of information the public needs, and certain to divert scarce Commission resources better directed elsewhere,” wrote Phillips in his dissent.

This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.

A Sunday shooting at the USA Oakland Park Flea Market Mall and Shopping Center killed one person, Broward Sheriff’s Office said. BSO said the person died at the scene, 3161 … Click to Continue »

Court documents say federal prosecutors in Brooklyn are in plea negotiations with Miami Beach resident Garrett O’Rourke, but the Securities and Exchange Commission already has a judgment ordering O’Rourke to … Click to Continue »

If it’s meant to be, it will be. Was Evermore single “Willow” already on Taylor Swift’s mind nearly 10 years ago?

On Saturday (Dec. 12), a fan of Swift’s with a sharp eye found the word “Willow” was featured in the music video for “Mean,” circa 2011. The song was on Swift’s Speak Now album, released a decade ago.

“No words,” they wrote. The tweet showed a collage of music video stills comparing “Willow” to “Mean,” both of which had Swift outfitted in a lace dress and wearing her hair in a braid. On Swift’s “Mean” stage set is a sign that clearly says “Willow” (which can be seen pretty well about 56 seconds in, if you’re watching for it yourself).

This finding shows up on Swift’s feed of tweets she’s liked, with a trail of stunned reactions in the comments section.

“what the actual f—!??” one fan wrote, posting a meme that reads, “She’s so powerful. Her mind… UGH it amazes me sometimes.”

“She’s f—ed in the head,” another fan joked, quoting one of Swift’s own lines, from Evermore’s “Champagne Problems.”

See the “Willow” sighting below.

While Taylor Swift gave fans a present on her own birthday, friends and peers sent warm messages her way via social media on Sunday (Dec. 13), when the star turned 31.

Among the many notes was one from Aaron Dessner, who seemed to thoroughly enjoy the “Willow” remix she dropped for her birthday.

“This is frickin’ amazing and happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Dessner wrote to his Folklore and Evermore co-creator.

“Happy 31st, @taylorswift13,” Maren Morris sent out in a tweet, along with a glimmer of hope for 2021. “I am assuming you’ll be putting out 13 albums this next year?”

Kristin Chenoweth, meanwhile, took her at-home celebration of Swift very seriously, recording a snippet of herself covering one of her favorite Folklore songs, “Mad Woman,” to share with the world.

Blake Lively posted a personal snapshot in celebration of her pal’s birthday — “There was happiness because of you,” the actress wrote, quoting an Evermore track. “Happy happy birthday. Thank you for #Evermore. Absolutely nothing better than getting presents on other people’s birthdays. love you” — and Ryan Reynolds also put up an Instagram Story in honor of Swift.

Todrick Hall left some kind words on Instagram for his friend on her special day, too: “Happy Lucky Number Backwards Birthday @taylorswift. Thank you for your love, kindness, honesty, loyalty, your cooking, your cat loving, your generosity, your wittiness, your talent and for taking your precious time to listen to me over share about my hot mess express saga of men. You deserve the world, streaming ‘Evermore’ AND ‘Folklore’ today to celebrate you. 2020 worked hard, but you worked harder. LOVE YOUUUUUU MWAH.”

“Wish we could be together to celebrate. Love u so much,” Gigi Hadid wrote in an Instagram Story, where she shared a photo of Swift.

And while it wasn’t exactly a “happy birthday,” Halsey commended Swift on Sunday for gifting her fans with so much new music this year.

“I just love @taylorswift13 for committing to bringing so much magic to a time in which she knows so many of her fans may be suffering,” she wrote on Swift’s birthday. “This is the least profitable era of music we’ve lived to see and she’s working very hard because it makes people happy. That’s really somethin’.”

See some of these highlights, as well as more birthday messages for Swift, below.