Tech Transparency Project
@ttp-updates.bsky.social
The Tech Transparency Project is a research initiative of Campaign for Accountability that investigates the power, influence, & impact of Big Tech. https://www.techtransparencyproject.org
According to documents reviewed by Reuters, Meta considered focusing its scam reduction efforts “on countries where it feared near-term regulatory action”—suggesting self-interest may be a stronger motivator than concern for its users.
November 7, 2025 at 8:32 PM
According to documents reviewed by Reuters, Meta considered focusing its scam reduction efforts “on countries where it feared near-term regulatory action”—suggesting self-interest may be a stronger motivator than concern for its users.
There's also an open question as to whether enforcement actions Meta takes on scammers are permanent.
TTP identified a number of “disabled” advertisers who appeared to have successfully paid Meta to run new ads months after previous ones were flagged for violating Meta policy.
TTP identified a number of “disabled” advertisers who appeared to have successfully paid Meta to run new ads months after previous ones were flagged for violating Meta policy.
November 7, 2025 at 8:32 PM
There's also an open question as to whether enforcement actions Meta takes on scammers are permanent.
TTP identified a number of “disabled” advertisers who appeared to have successfully paid Meta to run new ads months after previous ones were flagged for violating Meta policy.
TTP identified a number of “disabled” advertisers who appeared to have successfully paid Meta to run new ads months after previous ones were flagged for violating Meta policy.
Meta has at times framed these “labs” as a separate organization to regulators and others, leaving the impression that an independent entity has signed off on its products.
August 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Meta has at times framed these “labs” as a separate organization to regulators and others, leaving the impression that an independent entity has signed off on its products.
Meta also created a unit called the Trust, Transparency and Control Labs that publishes reports about research and consultations that went into its kid-focused efforts, including IG Teen Accounts, the Messenger Kids app, and the opening of the Horizon Worlds metaverse to teens.
August 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Meta also created a unit called the Trust, Transparency and Control Labs that publishes reports about research and consultations that went into its kid-focused efforts, including IG Teen Accounts, the Messenger Kids app, and the opening of the Horizon Worlds metaverse to teens.
The National PTA—one of several parent and child safety groups Meta funds—took part in the rollout of Instagram Teen Accounts, collaborated with Meta on a parent’s guide to IG, and held a series of Meta-sponsored events across the country to promote the IG teen features.
August 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The National PTA—one of several parent and child safety groups Meta funds—took part in the rollout of Instagram Teen Accounts, collaborated with Meta on a parent’s guide to IG, and held a series of Meta-sponsored events across the country to promote the IG teen features.
The tactics include cultivating a network of paid child advocacy groups that go to bat for Meta in PR campaigns, using a social research “lab” to publish reports in support of its kid-focused products, and funding academic research highlighting positive use cases for Instagram.
August 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The tactics include cultivating a network of paid child advocacy groups that go to bat for Meta in PR campaigns, using a social research “lab” to publish reports in support of its kid-focused products, and funding academic research highlighting positive use cases for Instagram.
NEW: a TTP report reveals how Google—which at one time spent the most on lobbying of any U.S. corporation—employed an obscure legal strategy that reduced the amount of lobbying spending it discloses under federal law by removing executive lobbying from disclosures.
August 14, 2025 at 2:35 PM
NEW: a TTP report reveals how Google—which at one time spent the most on lobbying of any U.S. corporation—employed an obscure legal strategy that reduced the amount of lobbying spending it discloses under federal law by removing executive lobbying from disclosures.
Now, Texas regulators are engaged in an implementation process with the public and industry stakeholders to determine exactly how and when these emergency shutoffs will occur—and other states are watching.
August 13, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Now, Texas regulators are engaged in an implementation process with the public and industry stakeholders to determine exactly how and when these emergency shutoffs will occur—and other states are watching.
Crypto miners and data centers got sweetheart energy deals in Texas, premised on the idea that boosted grid capacity could serve the state by being redirected in times of crisis.
But now that a new law is set to make some emergency shutoffs mandatory, the industry has concerns.
But now that a new law is set to make some emergency shutoffs mandatory, the industry has concerns.
August 13, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Crypto miners and data centers got sweetheart energy deals in Texas, premised on the idea that boosted grid capacity could serve the state by being redirected in times of crisis.
But now that a new law is set to make some emergency shutoffs mandatory, the industry has concerns.
But now that a new law is set to make some emergency shutoffs mandatory, the industry has concerns.
ICYMI: TTP recently published an update to our Big Tech Funding Database, which serves as a one-stop-shop for information on what third-party groups receive funding from Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Apple.
August 8, 2025 at 4:07 PM
ICYMI: TTP recently published an update to our Big Tech Funding Database, which serves as a one-stop-shop for information on what third-party groups receive funding from Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Apple.
NEW: Google has sharply reduced its support for nonprofit groups devoted to diversity, equity, and inclusion, in what appears to be another sign that the company is falling in line with President Trump’s anti-DEI crusade, TTP has found.
August 1, 2025 at 5:16 PM
NEW: Google has sharply reduced its support for nonprofit groups devoted to diversity, equity, and inclusion, in what appears to be another sign that the company is falling in line with President Trump’s anti-DEI crusade, TTP has found.
Concluding their report, @everytown.bsky.social recommends further steps for YouTube to take, including devoting more resources to enforcement, focusing on some of the top offenders, using Everytown data in its machine learning, and being more transparent about violations and bans.
July 30, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Concluding their report, @everytown.bsky.social recommends further steps for YouTube to take, including devoting more resources to enforcement, focusing on some of the top offenders, using Everytown data in its machine learning, and being more transparent about violations and bans.
The analysis found that while “YouTube’s revised enforcement approach is making a significant dent in the problem,” “thousands of videos that violate YouTube’s firearms guidelines were still available on the platform.”
July 30, 2025 at 7:59 PM
The analysis found that while “YouTube’s revised enforcement approach is making a significant dent in the problem,” “thousands of videos that violate YouTube’s firearms guidelines were still available on the platform.”
Everytown’s latest report provides an audit of whether YouTube is enforcing its policy banning links to gun sales. Although the policy is longstanding, Everytown points to indicators from last year which signaled a renewed commitment from YouTube to actually enforce it.
July 30, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Everytown’s latest report provides an audit of whether YouTube is enforcing its policy banning links to gun sales. Although the policy is longstanding, Everytown points to indicators from last year which signaled a renewed commitment from YouTube to actually enforce it.
Following that letter—and previous advocacy from Everytown—YouTube announced in June 2024 that it would make several changes to what gun content its under-18 users could to see. Yet, a TTP spot check, conducted over 6 weeks later, found serious gaps in YouTube’s enforcement.
July 30, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Following that letter—and previous advocacy from Everytown—YouTube announced in June 2024 that it would make several changes to what gun content its under-18 users could to see. Yet, a TTP spot check, conducted over 6 weeks later, found serious gaps in YouTube’s enforcement.
TTP’s report—which found test YouTube accounts for video game-interested boys being directed to content on shootings and weapons, including instructional videos about 3D-printed “ghost guns”—was cited in Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s April 2024 letter to YouTube.
July 30, 2025 at 7:59 PM
TTP’s report—which found test YouTube accounts for video game-interested boys being directed to content on shootings and weapons, including instructional videos about 3D-printed “ghost guns”—was cited in Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s April 2024 letter to YouTube.
Yesterday, @everytown.bsky.social published a new report investigating “YouTube’s New Efforts to Stop Gun Sales.” Before auditing the enforcement of YouTube’s gun sale linking policy, Everytown cites past research into the platform’s promotion of gun content, including a 2023 TTP report.
July 30, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Yesterday, @everytown.bsky.social published a new report investigating “YouTube’s New Efforts to Stop Gun Sales.” Before auditing the enforcement of YouTube’s gun sale linking policy, Everytown cites past research into the platform’s promotion of gun content, including a 2023 TTP report.
Recently, TikToker Sarah Palmyra recounted an incident where police stopped her Uber driver, only to reveal he was driving under a false identity.
In April, TTP exposed dozens of Facebook groups where users openly bought and rented Uber driver accounts under other people’s IDs.
In April, TTP exposed dozens of Facebook groups where users openly bought and rented Uber driver accounts under other people’s IDs.
July 29, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Recently, TikToker Sarah Palmyra recounted an incident where police stopped her Uber driver, only to reveal he was driving under a false identity.
In April, TTP exposed dozens of Facebook groups where users openly bought and rented Uber driver accounts under other people’s IDs.
In April, TTP exposed dozens of Facebook groups where users openly bought and rented Uber driver accounts under other people’s IDs.
Some of the Chinese-owned VPNs in the Google Play Store also indicate they contain advertisements. That means Google may be helping these Chinese-owned VPNs make money off ads and profiting from the ad revenue.
June 12, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Some of the Chinese-owned VPNs in the Google Play Store also indicate they contain advertisements. That means Google may be helping these Chinese-owned VPNs make money off ads and profiting from the ad revenue.
Although all of the VPNs are listed as free in the app stores, some offered in-app purchases. Apple and Google both charge a percentage fee for in-app purchases, meaning they may be profiting from the continued presence of these apps in their stores.
June 12, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Although all of the VPNs are listed as free in the app stores, some offered in-app purchases. Apple and Google both charge a percentage fee for in-app purchases, meaning they may be profiting from the continued presence of these apps in their stores.
As of the May review, the Google Play Store continued to offer four Qihoo 360-connected apps—Turbo VPN, VPN Proxy Master, Snap VPN, and Signal Secure VPN—as well as seven other Chinese-owned VPNs identified in TTP’s initial report.
June 12, 2025 at 3:56 PM
As of the May review, the Google Play Store continued to offer four Qihoo 360-connected apps—Turbo VPN, VPN Proxy Master, Snap VPN, and Signal Secure VPN—as well as seven other Chinese-owned VPNs identified in TTP’s initial report.
NEW: Apple and Google’s app stores continue to offer VPNs that are surreptitiously owned by Chinese companies, over 6 weeks after TTP first identified them.
The latest findings also show Apple and Google may be profiting from these apps by taking a cut of subscription revenue.
The latest findings also show Apple and Google may be profiting from these apps by taking a cut of subscription revenue.
June 12, 2025 at 3:56 PM
NEW: Apple and Google’s app stores continue to offer VPNs that are surreptitiously owned by Chinese companies, over 6 weeks after TTP first identified them.
The latest findings also show Apple and Google may be profiting from these apps by taking a cut of subscription revenue.
The latest findings also show Apple and Google may be profiting from these apps by taking a cut of subscription revenue.
@warren.senate.gov also said the findings raise questions “about how the Treasury Department would enforce our sanctions if the GENIUS Act were to become law in its current form, given that it contains a loophole allowing a private company like X to issue its own stablecoins."
June 4, 2025 at 7:45 PM
@warren.senate.gov also said the findings raise questions “about how the Treasury Department would enforce our sanctions if the GENIUS Act were to become law in its current form, given that it contains a loophole allowing a private company like X to issue its own stablecoins."
Today, @warren.senate.gov sent a letter to Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent and Sec. of State Marco Rubio asking whether Treasury officials have taken any action after TTP’s recent report revealed that a number of U.S.-sanctioned terrorists appear to have paid, premium accounts on Elon Musk's X.
June 4, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Today, @warren.senate.gov sent a letter to Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent and Sec. of State Marco Rubio asking whether Treasury officials have taken any action after TTP’s recent report revealed that a number of U.S.-sanctioned terrorists appear to have paid, premium accounts on Elon Musk's X.
TTP also found several accounts making use of X’s revenue-generating features including subscriptions (which X takes a fee from) and tips to make money off their followers.
X’s own policies state that its premium services are off-limits to parties sanctioned by OFAC.
X’s own policies state that its premium services are off-limits to parties sanctioned by OFAC.
May 15, 2025 at 4:33 PM
TTP also found several accounts making use of X’s revenue-generating features including subscriptions (which X takes a fee from) and tips to make money off their followers.
X’s own policies state that its premium services are off-limits to parties sanctioned by OFAC.
X’s own policies state that its premium services are off-limits to parties sanctioned by OFAC.