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FCC Proposes Fining U.S. Wireless Carriers More Than $200 Mln Over Consumer Location Data
OANN ^ | 02/28/2020 | David Shepardson

Posted on 03/01/2020 8:31:15 PM PST by upchuck

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Federal Communications Commission confirmed on Friday it voted to propose fining four major U.S. wireless carriers more than $200 million for failing to protect consumers’ location information.

The FCC is proposing to fine T-Mobile US Inc more than $91 million, AT&T Inc $57 million, Verizon Communications Inc $48 million and Sprint Corp more than $12 million.

T-Mobile said it would dispute the fine, saying that after it learned its “location aggregator program was being abused by bad actor third parties, we took quick action.” The other three carriers did not immediately comment.The carriers will get to challenge the proposed fines before they can become final. Reuters first reported on Thursday that the total of the fines was expected to be just over $200 million.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said the commission “took decisive action to protect American consumers and we are confident in the balance we struck.”

The FCC said in May 2018 it was investigating reports that a website flaw could have allowed the location of mobile phone customers to be tracked. That probe expanded into other uses of consumers’ location data by third-party firms.

Carriers have allowed the use of location-data for programs like roadside assistance, logistics, medical emergency alert services, human trafficking alerts and fraud prevention.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Once again the corporations (can you spell shareholders) have to pay up. It would be a lot more effective if corporate types spend some time in jail.
1 posted on 03/01/2020 8:31:15 PM PST by upchuck
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To: upchuck

Good! It’s about time.


2 posted on 03/01/2020 8:36:02 PM PST by familyop ("Welcome to Costco. I love you." - -Costco greeter in the movie, "Idiocracy")
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To: upchuck
"It would be a lot more effective if corporate types spend some time in jail. "

Actually, for this type of crime (i.e. invading the privacy of others), I think the punishment should be the total loss of privacy for at least a year. That means EVERYTHING you do is streamed live online. Going to the bathroom, sleeping and snoring, how you look in the morning before 'putting yourself together', etc. All of it. It will definitely teach offenders about the sanctity of privacy.

3 posted on 03/01/2020 9:02:50 PM PST by neverevergiveup
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To: upchuck

Who seriously believes their location information is being kept private? Raise your hand.

You in the back; yes you, the 40 yo virgin who still believes in Santa Claus.


4 posted on 03/01/2020 9:06:25 PM PST by ChildOfThe60s (If you can remember the 60s........you weren't really there)
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To: upchuck

Ain’t it funny how the Federal Government is all about protecting your privacy ... until they want to use it AGAINST you...


5 posted on 03/01/2020 9:45:05 PM PST by TheBattman (Democrats-Progressives-Marxists-Socialists - redundant labels.)
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To: TheBattman

The govt doesn’t care about privacy. They want to know every little detail. They’re just confiscating 200 million because they can.


6 posted on 03/01/2020 9:56:32 PM PST by bluejean (I'm becoming a cranky old person. It really annoys me.)
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To: bluejean

“The govt doesn’t care about privacy. They want to know every little detail. They’re just confiscating 200 million because they can.”

One thief stealing from the other.


7 posted on 03/01/2020 10:06:34 PM PST by aquila48 (Do not let them make you care!)
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To: upchuck

You beat me to it. The only fines being paid are by the shareholders and the customers in the form of higher rates to pay for these crimes by the management.


8 posted on 03/01/2020 10:13:30 PM PST by Sequoyah101 (We are governed by the consent of the governed and we are fools for allowing it.)
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To: upchuck

On the other hand, think about how many apps insist on location permissions to “function properly”.
Its not just bad actors taking your info.


9 posted on 03/02/2020 2:50:56 AM PST by Adder ("Can you be more stupid?" is a question, not a challenge.)
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To: bluejean
The govt doesn’t care about privacy. They want to know every little detail. They’re just confiscating 200 million because they can.

Just government trying to make it hard on the competition. No one but Big Brother is allowed to track the peasants.

10 posted on 03/02/2020 4:28:08 AM PST by voicereason (The RNC is like the "one-night stand" you wish you could forget.)
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