FCC Slaps $196M in Fines on Major Carriers for Selling Location Data
May 1, 2024The FCC has imposed fines totaling $196 million on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon for selling customers' location data without consent.
T-Mobile was hit with the largest fine at $80 million, with AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint facing fines of over $57 million, close to $47 million, and $12 million respectively.
This unauthorized sale of data enabled third parties, including a Mississippi sheriff through Securus, to track individuals via their cell phones.
The mobile carriers intend to appeal the fines, challenging the FCC's allegations as lacking in legal and factual basis.
In response to privacy concerns, the FCC has formed a Privacy and Data Protection Task Force and is considering new rules to protect domestic violence survivors from location tracking.
Summary based on 14 sources
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Sources
TechCrunch • Apr 30, 2024
US fines telcos $200M for sharing customer location data without consent | TechCrunchThe Guardian • Apr 30, 2024
Top US mobile carriers fined $200m by FCC over illegal location-data sharingInsider • Apr 30, 2024
Largest phone providers hit with nearly $200 million in fines from FCC