Apple and Google both banned X-Mode — the only time both platforms agreed to kick out the same data broker. X-Mode's SDK hid inside 400+ apps, selling users' locations to military contractors. The company got banned, renamed itself Outlogic, and kept going. The data broker equivalent of a fake moustache. The FTC banned X-Mode from selling location data showing visits to addiction clinics, domestic violence shelters, and mental health facilities. They had been selling it. Someone's visit to an AA meeting. Someone's escape to a shelter. Someone's therapy appointment. All for sale, all traceable to a home address. The FTC banned it in 2024. The data was sold for years before that.
What they claim: X-Mode/Outlogic continued operations after rebranding
What we found: The FTC took action against X-Mode/Outlogic in 2024, banning the company from selling or sharing sensitive location data — including data revealing visits to medical facilities, religious organisations, and domestic violence shelters. The FTC found X-Mode had sold data that could track individuals to addiction treatment centres, mental health clinics, and places of worship.
What they claim: X-Mode described its SDK as providing app developers with monetisation through anonymised data
What we found: X-Mode's location tracking SDK was embedded in over 400 apps, including Muslim prayer apps, dating apps, and weather apps. The collected location data was sold to US military contractors and intelligence agencies. In 2020, both Apple and Google banned X-Mode's SDK from their app stores — an unprecedented action. X-Mode rebranded as "Outlogic" and continued operations.