AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile Hit With FCC Complaint Over Sale of Phone Location Data

Public interest groups and telecommunications experts filed a complaint with the Federal Communication Commission centering on how AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon sold their customers' real-time location data to third parties without those customers' informed consent. The complaint reads:

The Carriers' actions have threatened public safety, contrary to Congress’ directive that the Commission ensure communications networks promote safety of life and property. The Carriers’ improper disclosure of location information enabled stalkers, people posing as police officers, debt collectors, and others to take advantage and find unwitting individuals. Furthermore, it is likely that abuses of location data have disproportionately impacted disadvantaged and marginalized communities."

The organizations behind the complaint are the Open Technology Institute (part of the New America Foundation), Free Press, the Georgetown Law Center on Privacy & Technology.