Dive Brief:
- The FTC fined Carrot Neurotechnology $150,000 for its Ultimeyes mobile app that claims to improve users' eyesight without scientific evidence to support those claims. The "scientific research" was written by one of the company owners.
- The agency also fined two other apps, Mole Detective and MelApp, earlier this year for claiming the apps could detect skin cancer without adequate evidence to support that claim.
- FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection director Jessica Rich said in a statement, "Truth in advertising laws apply in the mobile marketplace. App developers and marketers must have scientific evidence to support any health or disease claims that they make for their apps."
Dive Insight:
According to a FTC press release, Carrot Neurotechnology advertised and sold Ultimeyes on the company's website and through the Apple App Store and Google Play store, with claims it is "scientifically shown to improve vision."
The company also claimed the app would provide comprehensive vision improvement for sports, reading and driving and reduce the need for glasses and contact lenses. "The case came down to the simple fact that 'Ultimeyes' promoters did not have the scientific evidence to support their claims that the app could improve users' vision," said Rich.