Your personal information and behavior on X is shared with companies you may not know about, enabling them to target you with ads across the internet.
Consumer impact
X collects extensive personal data including your content, interactions, location, device identifiers, and browsing behavior both on and off the platform, and uses this to serve targeted advertising and personalize your feed. This data may be shared with third-party advertisers, business partners, and affiliates, and your public posts are broadly viewable and searchable by anyone. You can review and adjust your privacy and data settings at https://x.com/settings/account.
What you can do
β οΈ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
Opt Out of Arbitration
Go to Settings > Privacy and Safety, then navigate to 'Data sharing and off-X activity' to limit sharing with advertising partners. California residents can also use the 'Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information' option if available.
Applicable agencies
Federal Trade Commission (ftc)
Oversees unfair or deceptive business practices and can investigate companies that mislead consumers about data collection, sharing, or use.
Who can file: Anyone affected by the company's practices (US or international)
What you need: Your account details, a timeline of relevant events, and a description of the specific issue
What to expect: Complaints inform FTC enforcement priorities and investigations but do not result in individual resolution or compensation
State AGs in California, New York, Texas, and other states can investigate violations of state consumer protection and privacy laws, including CCPA (California), SHIELD Act (New York), and equivalents.
Who can file: Residents of states with comprehensive privacy laws β primarily California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah
What you need: Evidence of the violation, explanation of how your state rights were affected, and your account or contact information with the company
What to expect: Outcomes vary by state. May result in investigation, enforcement action, or requirement for the company to change practices. No direct individual compensation in most cases.
Search "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint" to find your state's direct complaint form