Security News > 2020 > February > FCC: Wireless Carriers Violated Law by Sharing Location Data

A Federal Communications Commission investigation found that one or more U.S. wireless carriers violated federal law by selling consumer location data to third parties, according to a letter FCC Chairman Ajit Pai sent to congressional lawmakers.

The findings described in the letter came from an investigation the FCC launched after the New York Times in 2018 reported about how the biggest wireless carriers, including AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, were giving real-time location data to third-party companies.

Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democratic FCC commissioner, noted on Twitter: "Today the FCC says this violates the law. It never should have taken so long. It put the privacy and safety of everyone with a wireless phone at risk."

In 2019, the FCC launched an investigation after 11 Democratic members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee accused the FCC of failing to enforce privacy provisions in the Communications Act following the New York Times report that several wireless carriers were giving real-time phone location data to third parties.

The Times reported that some wireless carriers were sharing customers' location data with Securus Technologies, a provider of phone services for prison inmates.

News URL

https://www.inforisktoday.com/fcc-wireless-carriers-violated-law-by-sharing-location-data-a-13677