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FTC Bans InMarket From Selling Consumer Location Data

The settlement requires the Austin-based company to destroy previously collected data and notify consumers, marking the FTC's continued focus on privacy protections.

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Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan testifies before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on "Oversight of the Federal Trade Commission," on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., July 13, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Wurm
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Overview

  • The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reached a settlement with Austin-based data broker InMarket, banning the company from selling sensitive consumer location data.
  • The FTC alleged InMarket did not fully inform consumers and obtain their consent before using and collecting location data for advertising and marketing.
  • The settlement requires InMarket to destroy previously collected data unless consumer consent is obtained and to notify all consumers if their location data was collected.
  • InMarket has denied the FTC’s allegations, stating it has “no interest in selling consumer location data.
  • The FTC's action against InMarket follows a similar order against another data broker, Outlogic, highlighting the agency's increasing focus on privacy protections.