FTC sniffs out deception by online advertiser

Epic Marketplace, Inc. has agreed to settle charges by the Federal Trade Commission that it deceived consumers by misrepresenting its online data collection practices. The online advertising company tracks consumers’ online activities and delivers targeted advertising based on the websites consumers visit. The proposed settlement bars Epic from future misrepresentations about its collection practices, prohibits it from unlawfully collecting data, and requires it to destroy any data it has collected unlawfully within five days of the settlement’s approval. The settlement is another demonstration of the FTC’s continuing focus on online privacy and its campaign to set boundaries on Internet advertising.