FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges Against Flashlight App Creator

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges against Goldenshores Technologies, LLC, and its owner, Erik Geidl.

According to the FTC’s complaint, the company created a popular flashlight app for Android devices that the FTC charged deceived consumers with a privacy policy that did not reflect the app’s use of personal data and presented consumers with a false choice on whether to share their information.

The settlement, first announced in December 2013, prohibits Goldenshores and Geidl from misrepresenting how consumers’ information is collected and shared and how much control consumers have over the way their information is used.

The settlement also requires the defendants to provide a just-in-time disclosure that fully informs consumers when, how, and why their geolocation information is being collected, used and shared, and requires defendants to obtain consumers’ affirmative express consent before doing so.

The defendants also will be required to delete any personal information collected from consumers through the Brightest Flashlight app.

The Commission vote approving the final order and letters to members of the public who commented on it was 4-0.  (FTC File No. 132-3087; the staff contacts are Kerry O’Brien, FTC Western Region - San Francisco, 415-848-5189; and Sarah Schroeder, FTC Western Region - San Francisco, 415-848-5186.)

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