WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Jan. 9 that, in association with the state of Nevada, the agency has charged a group of defendants operating an adult content website with federal and state law violations.
According to the FTC, MyEx.com is a website where people post pictures and videos of other people without their consent, as a way to seek revenge of some sort. The website acquired the personal information—including the name, address, employer and social media account information—of consumers without consent. The site allegedly urged site visitors to “add your ex,” and to “submit pics and stories of your ex.”
“MyEx.com uses reprehensible tactics to profit off of the intimate details of individuals’ private lives,” said acting FTC chairwoman Maureen K. Ohlhausen. “People who were featured on this site suffered real harm, including the loss of money they paid to remove intimate images and personal information, loss of jobs, and being subject to threats and harassment.”
The defendants in the complaint are EMP Media Inc., which does business as MyEx.com, T&A Media and Internet Secrets, as well as Aniello “Neil” Infante, Shad “John” Applegate, also known as Shad Cottelli. The FTC also named one or more unnamed parties doing business as Yeicox Ltd. FTC and charged the defendants with violations of the FTC Act.
The FTC voted 2-0 to authorize the staff to file the complaint. The agency filed the complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.