AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon are challenging substantial fines levied by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for allegedly sharing user location data with third parties without consent.
The FCC proposed the fines in 2020 following an investigation that began in 2017 after discovering potential misuse of location data by a company called Securus. The investigation concluded that the carriers had failed to adequately protect user privacy. Verizon was fined $47 million, and all three carriers discontinued their involvement with the location-based services program.
The carriers argue that their location-based services programs underwent thorough vetting processes and required customer consent. They claim the data was used for legitimate purposes like emergency response and fraud prevention.
In their defense, the carriers contend that the FCC overstepped its authority, wrongly assigned liability for third-party misuse of data, and imposed penalties without clear legal grounds. This legal battle underscores the growing regulatory focus on protecting user privacy and data security.
