Inbox Group, LLC

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IN THE MATTER OF INBOX GROUP, LLC CONSENT ORDER, ETC. IN REGARD TO ALLEGED VIOLATION OF SECTION 5 OF THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION ACT. Docket C-4546; File No. 152 3202 Complaint, September 29, 2015 – Decision, September 29, 2015 This consent order addresses Inbox Group, LLC’s misleading representation of their participation in the Safe Harbor privacy framework agreed upon by the U.S. and the European Union (“EU”). Inbox Group is a marketing agency that provides marketing programs and services for emails, social media outlets, and mobile devices. The Commission’s complaint alleges that Inbox Group falsely represented that it was a participant in the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework when, in fact, Inbox Group was never a participant in the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework. Commerce has never included the company on its public website. The consent order prohibits Inbox Group from making misrepresentations about its membership in any privacy or security program sponsored by the government or any other self-regulatory or standard-setting organization, including, but not limited to, the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework. As well as, requiring Inbox Group to supply and retain documents relating to their compliance with the Order for a five-year period. Participants For the Commission: James R. Golder and Emily B. Robinson. For the Respondent: Christopher Donald, CEO; pro se. COMPLAINT The Federal Trade Commission, having reason to believe that Inbox Group, LLC, a limited liability company, has violated the Federal Trade Commission Act (“FTC Act”), and it appearing to the Commission that this proceeding is in the public interest, alleges:

1. Respondent Inbox Group, LLC is a Texas limited liability company with its principal office or place of business at 2400 Crockett Court, Grapevine, Texas 76051. 2. Respondent is a marketing agency that provides email, social media, and mobile marketing programs and services. INBOX GROUP, LLC 643 Complaint 3. The acts and practices of respondent as alleged in this complaint have been in or affecting commerce, as “commerce” is defined in Section 4 of the FTC Act.

4. Respondent has set forth on its website, http://www.inboxgroup.com/company/privacy/, privacy policies and statements about its practices, including statements related to its participation in the Safe Harbor privacy framework agreed upon by the U.S. and the European Union (“U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework”).

The Framework 5. The U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework provides a method for U.S. companies to transfer personal data outside of Europe that is consistent with the requirements of the European Union Directive on Data Protection (“Directive”). Enacted in 1995, the Directive sets forth European Union (“EU”) requirements for privacy and the protection of personal data. Among other things, it requires EU Member States to implement legislation that prohibits the transfer of personal data outside the EU, with exceptions, unless the European Commission (“EC”) has made a determination that the recipient jurisdiction’s laws ensure the protection of such personal data. This determination is referred to commonly as meeting the EU’s “adequacy” standard. 6. To satisfy the EU adequacy standard for certain commercial transfers, the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) and the EC negotiated the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework, which went into effect in 2000. The U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework allows U.S. companies to transfer personal data lawfully from the EU. To join the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework, a company must self-certify to Commerce that it complies with seven principles and related requirements that have been deemed to meet the EU’s adequacy standard. 7. Companies under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), as well as the U.S. Department of Transportation, are eligible to join the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework. A company under the FTC’s jurisdiction that claims it has self-certified to the Safe Harbor principles, but failed to self-certify to Commerce, may be subject to an enforcement VOLUME 160 Complaint action based on the FTC’s deception authority under Section 5 of the FTC Act.

8. Commerce maintains a public website, www.export.gov/safeharbor, where it posts the names of companies that have self-certified to the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework. The listing of companies indicates whether their self-certification is “current” or “not current” and a date when recertification is due. Companies are required to re-certify every year in order to retain their status as “current” members of the Safe Harbor Framework.

Violations of Section 5 of the FTC Act 9. Since at least January 2015, respondent has disseminated or caused to be disseminated privacy policies and statements on the http://www.inboxgroup.com/company/privacy website, including, but not limited to, the following statements: Safe Harbor Compliance Inbox Group has certified its compliance with the standards of the Safe Harbor Principles developed by the U.S. Department of Commerce for the regulation of data transfers between the European Union and the United States. This Policy and Inbox Group’s information handling practices described in this Policy comply with the Safe Harbor privacy Principles. (some emphasis added) 10. Through the means described in Paragraph 9, respondent has represented, expressly or by implication, that it is a “current” participant in the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework. 11. In truth and in fact, respondent is not and never has been a participant in the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework. Therefore, the representation set forth in Paragraph 10 was, and is, false and misleading.

12. The acts and practices of respondent as alleged in this complaint constitute deceptive acts or practices, in or affecting INBOX GROUP, LLC 645 Decision and Order commerce, in violation of Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

THEREFORE, the Federal Trade Commission this twentyninth day of September 2015, has issued this complaint against respondent.

By the Commission.

DECISION AND ORDER The Federal Trade Commission (“Commission”), having initiated an investigation of certain acts and practices of the respondent named in the caption hereof, and the respondent having been furnished thereafter with a copy of a draft complaint that the Bureau of Consumer Protection proposed to present to the Commission for its consideration, and which, if issued by the Commission, would charge respondent with violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act (“FTC Act”), 15 U.S.C. § 45 et seq.;

The respondent, and counsel for the Commission having thereafter executed an Agreement Containing Consent Order (“Consent Agreement”), which includes: a statement by respondent that it neither admits nor denies any of the allegations in the draft complaint, except as specifically stated in the Consent Agreement, and, only for purposes of this action, admits the facts necessary to establish jurisdiction; and waivers and other provisions as required by the Commission’s Rules; and The Commission having thereafter considered the matter and having determined that it had reason to believe that the respondent has violated the FTC Act, and that a complaint should issue stating its charges in that respect, and having thereupon accepted the executed consent agreement and placed such agreement on the public record for a period of thirty (30) days for the receipt and consideration of public comments, now in further conformity with VOLUME 160 Decision and Order the procedure prescribed by Commission Rule 2.34, 16 C.F.R. § 2.34, the Commission hereby issues its complaint, makes the following jurisdictional findings, and enters the following Decision and Order (“Order”):

1. Respondent Inbox Group, LLC is a Texas limited liability company with its principal office or place of business at 2400 Crockett Court, Grapevine, Texas 76051.

2. The Federal Trade Commission has jurisdiction of the subject matter of this proceeding and of the respondent, and the proceeding is in the public interest. ORDER DEFINITIONS For purposes of this Order, the following definitions shall apply:

A. Unless otherwise specified, “respondent” shall mean Inbox Group, LLC, and its successors and assigns. B. “Commerce” shall mean as defined in Section 4 of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 44.

I.

IT IS ORDERED that respondent and its officers, agents, representatives, and employees, whether acting directly or indirectly, in connection with the advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for sale, or sale of any product or service, in or affecting commerce, shall not misrepresent in any manner, expressly or by implication, the extent to which respondent is a member of, adheres to, complies with, is certified by, is endorsed by, or otherwise participates in any privacy or security program sponsored by the government or any other self-regulatory or standard-setting organization, including, but not limited to, the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework and the U.S.-Swiss Safe Harbor Framework.

INBOX GROUP, LLC 647 Decision and Order II.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondent shall maintain and upon request make available to the Commission for inspection and copying, a print or electronic copy of, for a period of five (5) years from the date of preparation or dissemination, whichever is later, all documents relating to compliance with this order, including but not limited to:

A. all advertisements, promotional materials, and any other statements containing any representations covered by this order, with all materials relied upon in disseminating the representation; and B. any documents, whether prepared by or on behalf of respondent, that call into question respondent’s compliance with this order.

III.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondent shall deliver a copy of this order to all current and future principals, officers, directors, and managers, and to all current and future employees, agents, and representatives having responsibilities relating to the subject matter of this order. Respondent shall deliver this order to such current personnel within thirty (30) days after service of this order, and to such future personnel within thirty (30) days after the person assumes such position or responsibilities. For any business entity resulting from any change in structure set forth in Part IV, delivery shall be at least ten (10) days prior to the change in structure. Respondent must secure a signed and dated statement acknowledging receipt of this order, within thirty (30) days of delivery, from all persons receiving a copy of the order pursuant to this section.

IV.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondent shall notify the Commission at least thirty (30) days prior to any change in the corporation(s) that may affect compliance obligations arising under this order, including, but not limited to: a dissolution, assignment, sale, merger, or other action that would result in the VOLUME 160 Decision and Order emergence of a successor corporation; the creation or dissolution of a subsidiary, parent, or affiliate that engages in any acts or practices subject to this order; the proposed filing of a bankruptcy petition; or a change in the corporate name or address. Provided, however, that, with respect to any proposed change in the corporation(s) about which respondent learns fewer than thirty (30) days prior to the date such action is to take place, respondent shall notify the Commission as soon as is practicable after obtaining such knowledge. Unless otherwise directed by a representative of the Commission in writing, all notices required by this Part shall be emailed to [email protected] or sent by overnight courier (not the U.S. Postal Service) to: Associate Director of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. The subject line must begin: In re Inbox Group, LLC, FTC File No. 1523202.

V.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondent, within sixty (60) days after the date of service of this order, shall file with the Commission a true and accurate report, in writing, setting forth in detail the manner and form of its compliance with this order. Within ten (10) days of receipt of written notice from a representative of the Commission, it shall submit an additional true and accurate written report.

VI.

This order will terminate on September 29, 2035, or twenty (20) years from the date of its issuance, or twenty (20) years from the most recent date that the United States or the Commission files a complaint (with or without an accompanying consent decree) in federal court alleging any violation of the order, whichever comes later; provided, however, that the filing of such a complaint will not affect the duration of: A. any Part in this order that terminates in fewer than twenty (20) years;

B. this order’s application to any respondent that is not named as a defendant in such complaint; and INBOX GROUP, LLC 649 Analysis to Aid Public Comment C. this order if such complaint is filed after the order has terminated pursuant to this Part.

Provided, further, that if such complaint is dismissed or a federal court rules that respondent did not violate any provision of the order, and the dismissal or ruling is either not appealed or upheld on appeal, then the order as to such respondent will terminate according to this Part as though the complaint had never been filed, except that the order will not terminate between the date such complaint is filed and the later of the deadline for appealing such dismissal or ruling and the date such dismissal or ruling is upheld on appeal.

By the Commission.

ANALYSIS OF CONSENT ORDER TO AID PUBLIC COMMENT The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC” or “Commission”) has accepted, subject to final approval, a consent agreement applicable to Inbox Group, LLC (“Inbox Group”). The proposed consent order has been placed on the public record for thirty (30) days for receipt of comments by interested persons. Comments received during this period will become part of the public record. After thirty (30) days, the Commission will again review the agreement and the comments received, and will decide whether it should withdraw from the agreement and take appropriate action or make final the agreement’s proposed order. This matter concerns alleged false or misleading representations that Inbox Group made to consumers concerning its participation in the Safe Harbor privacy framework agreed upon by the U.S. and the European Union (“EU”) (“U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework” or “Safe Harbor Framework”). The Safe Harbor Framework allows U.S. companies to transfer data outside the EU consistent with EU law. To join the Safe Harbor VOLUME 160 Analysis to Aid Public Comment Framework, a company must self-certify to the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) that it complies with a set of principles and related requirements that have been deemed by the European Commission as providing “adequate” privacy protection. These principles include notice, choice, onward transfer, security, data integrity, access, and enforcement. Commerce maintains a public website, www.export.gov/safeharbor, where it posts the names of companies that have self-certified to the Safe Harbor Framework. The listing of companies indicates whether their self-certification is “current” or “not current.” Companies are required to re-certify every year in order to retain their status as “current” members of the Safe Harbor Framework.

Inbox Group is a marketing agency that provides email, social media, and mobile marketing programs and services. According to the Commission’s complaint, since at least January 2015, Inbox Group set forth on its website, http://www.inboxgroup.com/ company/privacy/, privacy policies and statements about its practices, including statements related to its participation in the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework.

The Commission’s complaint alleges that Inbox Group falsely represented that it was a participant in the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework when, in fact, Inbox Group was never a participant in the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework. Commerce has never included the company on its public website. Part I of the proposed order prohibits Inbox Group from making misrepresentations about its membership in any privacy or security program sponsored by the government or any other self-regulatory or standard-setting organization, including, but not limited to, the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework. Parts II through VI of the proposed order are reporting and compliance provisions. Part II requires Inbox Group to retain documents relating to its compliance with the Order for a fiveyear period. Part III requires dissemination of the order now and in the future to persons with responsibilities relating to the subject matter of the order. Part IV ensures the notification to the FTC of changes in corporate status. Part V mandates that Inbox Group submit an initial compliance report to the FTC, and make INBOX GROUP, LLC 651 Analysis to Aid Public Comment available to the FTC subsequent reports. Part VI is a provision “sunsetting” the order after twenty (20) years, with certain exceptions.

The purpose of this analysis is to facilitate public comment on the proposed order. It is not intended to constitute an official interpretation of the proposed complaint or order or to modify the order’s terms in any way.

VOLUME 160 Opinion of the Commission