In May, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent warning letters to 10 of the 45 data broker companies following a test-shopping operation, warning that their practices could violate the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

The test-shopping operation was performed by non-attorney FTC staff members posing as individuals or representatives of companies seeking information about consumers to make decisions related to their creditworthiness, eligibility for insurance or suitability for employment.