Chairman Pai: Wireless Carriers Apparently Violated Federal Law
On Jan 31, 2020, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai wrote the following to various Members of Congress:
"I am writing to follow up on my letter of December 3, 2019 regarding the status of the FCC’s investigation into the disclosure of consumers’ real-time location data. Fulfilling the commitment I made in that letter, I wish to inform you that the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has completed its extensive investigation and that it has concluded that one or more wireless carriers apparently violated federal law. I am committed to ensuring that all entities subject to our jurisdiction comply with the Communications Act and the FCC’s rules, including those that protect consumers’ sensitive information, such as real-time location data. Accordingly, in the coming days, I intend to circulate to my fellow Commissioners for their consideration one or more Notice(s) of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in connection with the apparent violation(s). Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance."
Chairman Pai's Response to Representatives Regarding Location Data Ajit Pai: Carrier sales of phone-location data is illegal, FCC plans punishment (ars technica) FCC confirms carriers ‘apparently’ broke the law by selling real-time customer locations (Vox)