FCC Enforcement Coming Over Alleged Privacy Violations For Disclosure Of Consumers' Geolocation Data

On January 31st, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai transmitted a letter in response to a prior inquiry from a number of House members regarding the status of the Commission's investigation into reports that the major wireless carriers were allegedly disclosing consumers' real time geolocation data to data aggregators. The aggregators were, in turn, were selling location-based data and services to other companies or individuals, purportedly without the mobile user's knowledge or consent. In the letter, Chairman Pai stated that the agency had completed its investigation and concluded that at least one carrier had violated federal law. Pai also stated that he and his fellow commissioners will be considering possible penalties against "one or more" carriers, which can contest any Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture.