X-Mode Social, Inc.
First-ever FTC order prohibiting a data broker from selling sensitive location data. X-Mode / Outlogic sold precise geolocation that could identify consumers’ visits to medical, reproductive-health, religious, and military locations.
Case identifiers
- Respondent
- X-Mode Social, Inc. (and Outlogic, LLC)
- Agency
- Federal Trade Commission
- Announced
- 2024-01-09
- Monetary relief
- Injunctive only
- Case number
- FTC File No. 212-3038
- Statutes cited
- FTC Act § 5 (unfair practices)
Key facts
- 1
X-Mode (now Outlogic) sold precise geolocation data collected through SDKs embedded in third-party mobile apps.
- 2
The data could identify consumers’ visits to reproductive health clinics, places of religious worship, domestic violence shelters, and military bases.
- 3
FTC alleged X-Mode failed to verify consumers had consented to sale of their location data and failed to honor opt-outs.
- 4
Landmark consent order, the first time FTC banned a data broker from sharing or selling sensitive location data.
What the order requires
Injunctive terms imposed by the Federal Trade Commission. These bind X-Mode Social, Inc.'s data practices going forward.
- Prohibition on selling, sharing, or licensing precise location data that could reveal visits to sensitive locations.
- Deletion of all previously collected location data (or de-identification to FTC standard).
- Development of a "sensitive location list" identifying places where tracking is banned.
- Establishment of a comprehensive consumer privacy program.
Primary sources
Read the original government documents. These are the authoritative records, everything on this page is derived from them.
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FAQ
What did the FTC charge X-Mode Social, Inc. with?+
First-ever FTC order prohibiting a data broker from selling sensitive location data. X-Mode / Outlogic sold precise geolocation that could identify consumers’ visits to medical, reproductive-health, religious, and military locations. The Federal Trade Commission cited FTC Act § 5 (unfair practices).
How much did X-Mode Social, Inc. pay?+
The 2024-01-09 order did not include monetary penalties against X-Mode Social, Inc.; the agency focused on injunctive relief (prohibiting certain practices going forward).
Does the X-Mode Social, Inc. settlement mean my data has been deleted?+
The order requires X-Mode Social, Inc. to delete certain categories of consumer data (see injunctive terms). Individual consumers should still exercise state-law deletion rights (CCPA, CPA, TDPSA) to confirm deletion from any remaining successor databases.
How can I read the original FTC order?+
The Federal Trade Commission press release is available at https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/01/ftc-order-prohibits-data-broker-x-mode-social-outlogic-sharing-or-selling-sensitive-location-data. The case / matter number is FTC File No. 212-3038.