FTC Bans Data Broker X-Mode from Selling Location Data

The FTC has banned data broker X-Mode from selling users' sensitive location data and ordered the firm, now known as Outlogic, to delete all previously collected location data unless consumer consent is obtained. X-Mode faced scrutiny for selling access to Americans' commercial location data to the U.S. government and military contractors. The FTC alleged that X-Mode sold precise location data that could be used to track people's visits to sensitive locations and failed to implement safeguards against downstream use of this data. The settlement also requires X-Mode to establish procedures to protect the privacy of consumers' personal information and ensure that recipients of its location data do not associate the data with sensitive locations.