Criminal Background

Last week, the Federal Trade Commission entered into a consent order with two companies alleged to have operated as consumer reporting agencies, by providing criminal record reports through mobile applications, without complying with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).  The consent order represents the FTC’s first FCRA case involving mobile applications. 

According to the FTC’s …

On February 7, 2012, the Federal Trade Commission sent letters to six marketers of mobile applications that provide background screening services.  The applications, including “Police Records,” “Criminal Pages,” and “Locate Anyone,” provide criminal record histories that, if used for employment or other Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)-related purposes, may subject the marketers to treatment…