FCC Fines AT&T, SPRINT, T-MOBILE, and VERIZON Nearly $200 Million ..

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FCC Fines AT&T, SPRINT, T-MOBILE, and VERIZON Nearly $200 Million for Illegally Sharing Access to Customers’ Location Data.

Today, the Federal Communications Commission fined the
nation’s largest wireless carriers for illegally sharing access to customers’ location information
without consent and without taking reasonable measures to protect that information against
unauthorized disclosure. Sprint and T-Mobile – which have merged since the investigation
began – face fines of more than $12 million and $80 million, respectively. AT&T is fined
more than $57 million, and Verizon is fined almost $47 million.
“Our communications providers have access to some of the most sensitive information about
us. These carriers failed to protect the information entrusted to them. Here, we are talking
about some of the most sensitive data in their possession: customers’ real-time location
information, revealing where they go and who they are,”..

* It should have been Billions not Millions.

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wavy, Lars220, Nibbled To Death By Ducks, SueW, Cybertooth, WSbobby-p, NaNoNyMouse

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I’ve had my personal gripes with AT&T. But after reading a comment made by the carrier’s Spokesperson Alex Byers, I’m inclined to give AT&T my vote for doing what any reputable company would do. That would be to provide as much protection as possible, not an easy task considering there are many unforeseen loopholes within the hidden structure of online digital media being leaked or stolen.

There are risks to all sides, the company providing service, their customers, and even to those overseeing operations that govern regulations, like the FCC. I find it hard to point the finger at a company that has been around long enough without much loss in customer service because of their strict policy and practices to provide and protect their clients. If these carriers are directly responsible for not adequately providing information to their customers to obtain their consent for release of their personal information or location, why did it take this long to slap a fine on them? And a hefty fine at that.

It’s a dizzy thought to try and imagine how much more fine print in company policy and agreements we can handle or understand. Let alone giving any major institution providing a service the expectation or ability to predict foul play by deviate outsiders who intend to steal a person’s information. We can’t. One would have to be a clairvoyant, and if we could predict future mishaps that slip through the cracks, it would be a perfect world.

AT&T spokesperson Alex Byers said the FCC’s action “lacks both legal and factual merit. It unfairly holds us responsible for another company’s violation of our contractual requirements to obtain consent, ignores the immediate steps we took to address that company’s failures, and perversely punishes us for supporting life-saving location services like emergency medical alerts and roadside assistance that the FCC itself previously encouraged. We expect to appeal the order after conducting a legal review.”
https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/29/24144599/fcc-fine-att-sprint-verizon-t-mobile-location-data

MacOS iPadOS and sometimes SOS

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Lars220

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When you look at the bottom line, NET profits, the amounts fined should be doubled, at least.

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Lars220

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Like Alex5723 mentioned, the meager fines are just a cost of doing business for large corporations such as these. They will just pass the cost on to us customers in higher fees for their services. We as individuals need to do all that we can to protect our privacy, even though nothing we do will be perfect. Here are some ideas to consider:

Data Privacy: All the Ways Your Cellphone Carrier Tracks You and How to Stop It – by Eli Blumenthal – April 30, 2024

“Data tracking in 2024 seems inevitable. Whether you’re using an iPhone or Android phone, your carrier is likely gathering all sorts of data about how, where and when you use your cellphone. Take control of your personal data by learning exactly what phone companies are tracking and how you can turn it off.”

Surveillance Self-Defense
A Project of the Electronic Frontier Foundation
Tips, Tools, and How-Tos for Safer Online Communications

“We’re the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an independent non-profit working to protect online privacy for over thirty years. This is Surveillance Self-Defense: our expert guide to protecting you and your friends from online spying. Read the BASICS to find out how online surveillance works. Dive into our TOOL GUIDES for instructions to installing our pick of the best, most secure applications. We have more detailed information in our FURTHER LEARNING sections. If you’d like a guided tour, look for our list of common SECURITY SCENARIOS.”

A comprehensive guide concerning online security matters that will require some amount of time to visit the multiple links offered. Scroll down the webpage to see if any of the subjects interest you. In depth education about Surveillance Self-Defense from eff.org

Amazing Truths Revealed: Link to Simply Magnificent AskWoody Knowledge Bases

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WSbobby-p, Charlie, WCHS, Myst, NaNoNyMouse, SueW, Alex5723

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