The FCC accused major wireless carriers AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon of improperly sharing customer location information without consent, leading to hefty fines imposed on them. T-Mobile faced an over $80 million fine, while Sprint, a brand under T-Mobile, received a penalty exceeding $12 million.
According to the FCC, these carriers shared customer location data with “aggregators,” who then sold access to third-party location-based service providers. Despite being aware of ineffective safeguards, the carriers continued this practice.
T-Mobile defended its actions, stating that the program in question had been discontinued over five years ago to ensure the continuity of critical services like roadside assistance and emergency response. Both AT&T and Verizon also expressed intentions to challenge the FCC’s decision, emphasizing their commitment to customer privacy and highlighting the steps taken to address the situation.
Verizon, which ended the program years ago, clarified that it required customer consent and aimed to support services like roadside assistance and medical alerts.
The fines imposed by the FCC come after four years of scrutiny and legal proceedings, stemming from reported incidents of unauthorized access to customer location information. Despite the carriers’ assertions, the regulator maintained its stance and issued fines totaling nearly $200 million.
