Thirteen Companies Agree to Settle FTC Charges They Falsely Claimed To Comply With International Safe Harbor Framework

Thirteen companies have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they misled consumers by claiming they were certified members of the U.S.-EU or U.S.-Swiss Safe Harbor Frameworks when their certifications had lapsed or the companies had never applied for membership in the program at all. The U.S.-EU and U.S.-Swiss Safe Harbor Frameworks allow companies to transfer consumer data from the European Union and Switzerland to the U.S. in compliance with EU and Swiss law. “The U.S.-EU and U.S.-Swiss Safe Harbor Frameworks are important agreements, and the Federal Trade Commission remains strongly committed to enforcing them,” said FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez. “Companies must not deceive consumers about their participation in these programs.”

Seven companies are alleged to have violated the FTC Act by falsely claiming to have a current certification in one or both safe harbor programs when their certifications had actually not been renewed:

• Golf Connect, LLC
• Pinger, Inc.
• NAICS Association, LLC
• Jubilant Clinsys, Inc.
• IOActive, Inc.
• Contract Logix, LLC
• Forensics Consulting Solutions, LLC

Six companies are alleged to have violated the FTC Act by claiming certification in one or both safe harbor programs when they never actually applied for membership in the programs:

• Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure
• SteriMed Medical Waste Solutions
• California Skate-Line
• Just Bagels Mfg., Inc.
• One Industries Corp.
• Inbox Group, LLC