The Federal Trade Commission assessed an $800,000 fine on Tuesday against Spokeo, a data collector that the commission said violated federal law by compiling and selling people’s personal information for use by potential employers in screening job applicants. The action is the F.T.C.’s first case addressing the sale of Internet and social media data for use in employment screening. Spokeo, of Pasadena, Calif., agreed to settle the civil charges without admitting that they are true. The trade commission alleged that Spokeo violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by marketing its consumer profiles without making sure that they would be used for legal purposes … Read the full story at The New York Times.