The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced two data brokers have agreed to settle charges they violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act “by providing reports about consumers to users such as prospective employers and landlords without taking reasonable steps to make sure that they were accurate or without making sure their users had a permissible reason to have them.” In separate cases, Instant Checkmate and Info Track Information Services agreed to pay civil penalties—$525,000 and $1 million respectively—and will discontinue their alleged illegal practices. The FTC also approved a final order settling deception charges against flashlight app creator Goldenshores. Meanwhile, the Senate, in a 95-1 vote, approved the nomination of Terrell McSweeny as the fifth and final FTC commissioner. Her confirmation gives Democrats a 3-2 majority.
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