FCC levies $196M fines on major carriers for privacy violations
FCC levies $196M fines on major carriers for privacy violations
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has imposed hefty fines totaling $196 million on the nation’s largest mobile carriers—AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon—for illegally sharing customers’ real-time location data without their consent. This marks a significant enforcement action stemming from violations first exposed in 2018.
T-Mobile received the largest fine of $80.1 million. That included a $12.2 million penalty initially directed at Sprint before its merger with T-Mobile. AT&T was fined $57.3 million. Meanwhile, Verizon faces a $46.9 million penalty.
The investigation, led by the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, found that all carriers had sold access to precise consumer location data to third-party aggregators. These aggregators then resold the data to various services, including those used by bounty hunters and bail bondsmen, often without direct customer consent.
Despite the termination of these data-sharing practices over five years ago, the carriers plan to contest the fines. They argue that the FCC’s decision is excessive and that safeguards were in place to protect consumer data.
“This stern action underscores the FCC’s commitment to safeguard consumer privacy and ensure that telecom giants adhere strictly to the law,” stated FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. She emphasized that the misuse of sensitive location information could not be tolerated.
The implicated carriers have expressed disagreement with the FCC’s findings and intend to challenge the fines legally. This case highlights ongoing concerns about privacy and the handling of personal data within the telecommunications industry.
Source: Ars Technica
FCC levies $196M fines on major carriers for privacy violations