The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announed proposed settlements with six firms charged for violations under the US/EU Safe Harbor Program. The firms were alleged to have allowed their certifications to lapse but to have continued representing in their online privacy policies that they were self-certified under the Program, thus having engaged in deceptive practices.

The proposed settlements with the firms (World Innovators, Inc.; ExpatEdge Partners LLC; Onyx Graphics, Inc.; Directors Desk LLC; Collectify LLC; and Progressive Gaitways LLC) follow on the first ever enforcement action taken by the FTC under the Safe Harbor Program against California-based Balls of Kryptonite. The California firm was accused of falsely representing that it had self-certified to the Program, when apparently it had not.