Smartphones can't tell anyone that he or she is sick, has a broken bone or melanoma.
Based on the statement of Federal Trade Commission last Monday, it has already taken some actions against the marketers of the smartphone apps, which claim that they can detect melanoma, a deadly kind of skin cancer. Some people have already purchased the apps.
These melanoma detector apps, which claim that through taking a photo of a mole and giving particular information to users could determine how huge the chances are that the mole is cancerous, even in its early stage. However, FTC stated that the app marketers lacked testing to show that such apps worked as they claimed.
The direction of Bureau of Consumer Protection of FTC, Jessica Rich, stated that app marketers and developers should have scientific evidence in supporting any disease or health claims that they design for their apps.
CBS reported that the promoters of Mole Detective and MelApp agreed to settle the charges of deceptive marketing of FTC. They are prohibited to make such claims without having any scientific evidence to back them up.
But, FTC stated that it will be suing Avrom Lasarow, a UK based businessman, together with his company called L Health Ltd., after it failed to reach the settlement with them. Lasarow has taken over the marketing of Mole Detective in August last 2012.
Kristi Kimball, the developer of Mole Detective, and New Consumer Solutions, her company, has sold the melanoma detector app from January 2012 until L Health Ltd. and Lasarow stepped in. New Consumer Solutions and Kimball agreed to the settlement, which prohibit them from making claims and should give back approximately $4,000 in app sales.
According to USToday, Mole Detective can be sold for up to $4.99 in Apple App Store and on Google Play Store.
MelApp was sold by Health Discovery Corporation since year 2011 for $1.99 and also agreed to the settlement prohibiting misleading claims of this melanoma detector. The feds added that the company should give back over $18,000 in sales.
