Study Finds AI Firms Use Deceptive Opt-Out Practices Similar to Data Brokers
2 hours agoTech
32LENS
2 Sources
TBNthebalanced.news

Study Finds AI Firms Use Deceptive Opt-Out Practices Similar to Data Brokers

A recent study by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) reveals that major AI companies like Google, Meta, and OpenAI use deceptive opt-out tactics similar to data brokers, complicating users' ability to prevent the sale or sharing of their personal data. The study highlights weak or unclear opt-out policies and links AI firms to a broader ecosystem involving data brokers and defense contractors. EPIC warns these practices risk user safety, citing past misuse of commercial data to harass and locate vulnerable groups. The report calls for regulators to enforce consumer rights in opt-out processes.

Political Bias
70%28%2%
Sentiment
30%
AI analysis of 2 sources · Published under editorial oversight by The Balanced News
Analysed 25 May 2026· How this analysis is produced· Editorial standards· Corrections

AI Analysis

Political bias across 2 sources
● Left 70%● Center 28%● Right 2%

The articles present perspectives primarily from a digital rights advocacy group (EPIC) criticizing AI companies' data practices, reflecting concerns about consumer privacy and regulatory oversight. There is no evident political party framing; the coverage focuses on corporate behavior and calls for government regulation, representing both consumer protection interests and industry practices without partisan alignment.

Sentiment — Negative (30/100)

The overall tone is critical of AI firms' data-sharing and opt-out policies, emphasizing risks to user safety and manipulative design practices. While the sentiment highlights negative aspects of corporate behavior, it remains factual and focused on advocacy for improved consumer rights and regulatory intervention, resulting in a predominantly cautionary but balanced coverage.

How 2 sources covered this story

Each source's own headline, political lean, and sentiment — so you can see framing differences at a glance.

SourceTheir headlineBiasSentiment
timesnowBig Tech Accused Of Using Dark Patterns To Collect User DataLeftNegative
indianexpressAI firms use same deceptive opt-out tactics as data brokers to confuse users, study findsLeftNegative

Coverage timeline

indianexpress broke this story on 25 May, 07:30 am. Other outlets followed.

  1. 1
    indianexpress25 May, 07:30 am
    AI firms use same deceptive opt-out tactics as data brokers to confuse users, study finds
  2. 2
    timesnow25 May, 08:55 am
    Big Tech Accused Of Using Dark Patterns To Collect User Data

Lens Score breakdown

32/100
Public interest0/100
Coverage gap100%

Well-covered story — coverage matches public importance.

Who's involved

Institutions and figures named across source coverage.

Corporate
BumbleMicrosoftAmazonPalantirGoogleTinderMetaOpenAI

Story context

Category
Tech
Sources analysed
2
Last analysed
25 May 2026
Key entities
Data brokerOpt-outArtificial intelligencePersonal dataElectronic Privacy Information CenterPerson of colorLGBTConsumer protectionEcosystemMarketplaceData sharingOpenAI