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FCC slaps AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile with mega fines for data deceit
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken decisive action against the nation’s four largest mobile carriers, imposing a hefty fine of $200 million for the unauthorized sharing of customers’ location data.Â
This move underscores the agency’s commitment to consumer privacy and protecting sensitive information.
The breakdown of fines
T-Mobile: The leading fine of $80 million reflects the gravity of the alleged breach, compounded by an additional $12 million for its subsidiary, Sprint.
AT&T: With a fine exceeding $57 million, AT&T faces significant repercussions.
Verizon: The carrier was fined $46 million, signaling Verizon’s alleged involvement in the data breach.
Verizon Wireless sign. (Verizon)
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Investigation findings and allegations
The FCC’s enforcement bureau alleges that each carrier sold access to customer location data to “aggregators,” who then resold it to third-party service providers. They further allege that this chain of actions occurred without proper customer consent, a clear violation of FCC regulations. The allegations initially brought to light under the Trump administration suggest a failure to safeguard user location data.
THE WORST MALWARE, SECURITY AND PRIVACY BREACHES OF 2023
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Legal requirements and carrier obligations
Carriers are mandated by law to protect customer information, including location data. The FCC highlighted the carriers’ “initial failure” to do so, even after being aware that their safeguards were ineffective.
The FCC’s stance
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel emphasized the sensitivity of real-time location information and the carriers’ failure to act as responsible stewards of this data. The FCC’s resolve remains firm in holding carriers accountable, and she had this to say in a statement:
“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. As we resolve these cases — which were first proposed by the last Administration — the Commission remains committed to holding all carriers accountable and making sure they fulfill their obligations to their customers as stewards of this most private data.”
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The mobile carriers’ stance
However, the mobile carriers are not standing down and intend to challenge the FCC’s decision.
An AT&T spokesperson said in a statement:
“The FCC order 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.”
Meanwhile, T-Mobile had this to say:
“This industry-wide third-party aggregator location-based services program was discontinued more than five years ago after we took steps to ensure that critical services like roadside assistance, fraud protection and emergency response would not be disrupted. We take our responsibility to keep customer data secure very seriously and have always supported the FCC’s commitment to protecting consumers, but this decision is wrong, and the fine is excessive. We intend to challenge it.”
Verizon spokesman Rich Young offered this response:
“Verizon is deeply committed to protecting customer privacy. In this case, when one bad actor gained unauthorized access to information relating to a very small number of customers, we quickly and proactively cut off the fraudster, shut down the program, and worked to ensure this couldn’t happen again. Unfortunately, the FCC’s order gets it wrong on both the facts and the law, and we plan to appeal this decision.
“Keep in mind, the FCC’s order concerns an old program that Verizon shut down more than half a decade ago. That program required affirmative, opt-in customer consent and was intended to support services like roadside assistance and medical alerts.”
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Can I do anything to ensure I’m not sharing my location?
You can check that you’re not accidentally sharing your location by clicking here. While following the tips in our article would likely enhance your privacy settings and reduce the risk of unauthorized location sharing by apps and services on your devices, it may not have prevented carriers like AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile from sharing location data in the manner described by the FCC’s allegations.
The issue at hand involved the carriers’ practices of selling access to customer location data to aggregators, which is a separate matter from the location settings on your device. The carriers were fined for not obtaining proper customer consent and not safeguarding the data as per FCC regulations, which is a different aspect of privacy protection than what is controlled through device settings.
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Steps you can take to protect your privacy
In response to the FCC’s action against mobile carriers for unauthorized sharing of location data, you can take several steps to protect yourself and enhance your privacy:
1. Understand your rights: Know what your rights are regarding data privacy and how carriers are supposed to protect your information.
2. Review privacy policies: Regularly review the privacy policies of your mobile carrier and any apps you use to understand how your data is being used.
3. Manage app permissions: Be vigilant about the permissions you grant to apps, especially regarding location data. Only allow access to apps that need it for core functionality.
4. Opt-out of data sharing: If your carrier provides the option, opt out of any data-sharing initiatives.
5. Contact your carrier: If you have concerns about how your data is being handled, contact your carrier directly to express your concerns and request more information about their data protection measures.
6. Stay proactive: Regularly update your device’s security settings and stay proactive about protecting your personal information.
7. Use privacy tools: Consider using privacy-focused tools and services, such as VPNs, which can help mask your location from third parties. A VPN can protect you against being tracked and identify your potential location on websites you visit. Depending on their privacy settings, many sites can read your IP address and may display the city from which you are corresponding. A VPN will disguise your IP address to show an alternate location. See my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.
Kurt’s key takeaways
The FCC’s actions serve as a reminder of the sanctity of personal data. In an era where information is power, protecting customer data is paramount. The fines imposed are not just monetary penalties but a call to action for all service providers to uphold the trust placed in them by consumers. As the carriers prepare to appeal, the industry watches closely, knowing that the outcome of this case could set a precedent for data privacy and protection standards moving forward.
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In light of the FCC’s recent fines for unauthorized sharing of location data, what measures do you believe mobile carriers should implement to ensure the privacy and trust of their customers? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Bitcoin opens $63K futures gap as thin liquidity threatens BTC price
Bitcoin market participants are doubting the staying power of the ongoing BTC price relief bounce.
Fox News AI Newsletter: Emily Blunt’s AI admission
Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.
IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:
– Emily Blunt admits new technology is ‘something we’re all nervous about’
– AI expert: ChatGPT prompts you’ll wish you knew sooner
– State Department wants China, Russia to declare that AI won’t control nuclear weapons, only humans
‘HUGE CONCERNS’: Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling hope audiences will continue to appreciate the people who make movies happen behind the scenes as artificial intelligence continues to infiltrate the industry.
Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt attend the Los Angeles premiere of Universal Pictures’ “The Fall Guy” at Dolby Theatre on April 30, 2024, in Hollywood, California. (Phillip Faraone/WireImage)
BEST CHATGPT PROMPTS: You’ve probably noticed the new AI search bar in all the Meta apps, including Facebook and Instagram. It won’t be long before all your most-used apps and services integrate chatbots.
ChatGPT has been known to have glitches — including giving false information in some situations. (Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
STANDING VIGILANT: A State Department official is pushing Thursday for China and Russia to declare that only humans – and not artificial intelligence – will make decisions on deploying nuclear weapons.Â
SUPERHUMAN POWER: Imagine stepping into the wilderness, not just as an adventurer, but as a superhuman explorer. That’s exactly what the X1 all-terrain exoskeleton offers.
Subscribe now to get the Fox News Artificial Intelligence Newsletter in your inbox.
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Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future with Fox News here.
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ZKasino scam suspect arrested, $12.2M seized by Dutch authorities
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California Tuberculosis outbreak kills 1, infects 14 as officials declare health emergency
A deadly outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) has occurred inside a California hotel housing homeless people, leading to the death of one person and forcing city health officials to declare a public health emergency.
The alarming outbreak at the unnamed hotel infected 14 people, resulting in nine people being hospitalized, the Department of Health and Human Services for Long Beach announced Thursday. The identity of the deceased individual has not been released.Â
“The outbreak is currently isolated to a distinct population and the risk to the general public is low,” city officials announced.
Doctor looks at X-rays from a tuberculosis patient. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
“The population at risk in this outbreak has significant barriers to care including homelessness and housing insecurity, mental illness, substance use and serious medical comorbidities.”
Officials say the health emergency was announced to strengthen the city’s preparedness and ability to respond to the outbreak.Â
Around 170 people have likely been exposed to TB and the Health Department is in the process of screening contacts for TB via symptom review, blood or skin tests and chest X-rays.
The Health Department says it expects the number of cases and contacts to increase and those found to have active TB disease or latent TB infection will be provided treatment.Â
TUBERCULOSIS BREAKS OUT AT CHICAGO MIGRANT SHELTERS FOLLOWING MEASLES CASES
This 2006 electron microscope image provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, which causes the disease tuberculosis. (Janice Carr/CDC/AP)
Health officials say the name of the hotel is not being released in order to protect patient privacy and comply with The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. The facility is a private hotel not operated by or contracted with the City of Long Beach.
Tuberculosis is transmitted in airborne particles and typically affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. It is not as contagious as COVID.
“You can catch tuberculosis if someone is coughing or sneezing or in close contact, the bacteria from those particles gets into the air and anybody nearby will breathe that in and that’s how they pick it up and that’s how they catch it,” Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a New York City-based double board-certified doctor, told Fox News Digital recently.
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Tuberculosis under a microscope and a Chicago migrant shelter. Chicago health officials last month announced that a “small number” of tuberculosis (TB) cases were reported at some migrant facilities in the city. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images, right, NIH/NAID/IMAGE.FR/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, top left, BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, bottom left.)
The TB outbreak comes after the number of U.S. tuberculosis cases in 2023 were the highest in a decade, according to the CDC.
Cases increased from 8,320 in 2022 to 9,615 in 2023, an increase of 1,295 cases with numbers going up among all age groups. Data from the agency shows nearly 10,000 infections in 2013.
Chicago health officials last month announced that a “small number” of tuberculosis (TB) cases were reported at some migrant facilities in the city.
Fox News’ Greg Norman contributed to this report.Â
Electric humanoid robot poised to shake up the job market
Boston Dynamics has unveiled a groundbreaking achievement in the ever-evolving robotics landscape.
Supported by visionary research and decades of practical experience, this new electric robot marks a significant leap forward.
The fully electric Atlas robot. (Boston Dynamics)
Boston Dynamics unveils electric Atlas
The Massachusetts-based robotics company bid farewell to the hydraulic Atlas and revealed its successor — a fully electric Atlas robot designed for real-world applications.Â
With Spot, Stretch and now Atlas, Boston Dynamics is at the forefront of shaping the next commercial frontier.
The Atlas robot. (Boston Dynamics)
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What is new about the electric Atlas?
Atlas 2.0 surpasses its predecessors in strength and versatility. Unlike the last-generation hydraulic Atlas (HD Atlas), which could already lift and maneuver heavy, irregular objects, the new Atlas features even greater capabilities.
Boston Dynamics is also exploring new gripper variations to meet diverse manipulation needs in commercial environments. In the company’s short teaser video, the robot gracefully rises from the floor and walks away.
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The Atlas robot bending down. (Boston Dynamics)
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The role of the electric humanoid robot in the future
The new electric Atlas represents the culmination of years of innovation. While traditionally focused on legged robots, Boston Dynamics recognizes that the humanoid form factor isn’t limiting. Its electric Atlas moves efficiently, unconstrained by the human range of motion and can rotate 360 degrees at all of its joints.
Atlas 2.0 will tackle dull, dirty and dangerous tasks in real-world commercial and industrial applications. Hyundai’s next-generation factories will be the initial proving ground. In addition, Boston Dynamics plans to sell the latest humanoid robot, but the price has yet to be disclosed.
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The Atlas robot is fully electric. (Boston Dynamics)
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Boston Dynamics has retired the hydraulic Atlas and introduced its fully electric successor. The electric Atlas surpasses its predecessors in strength and versatility, moving efficiently and unconstrained by human limitations. As it tackles dull, dirty and dangerous tasks in real-world applications, it’s poised to revolutionize industries, starting with Hyundai’s next-generation factories.
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With the introduction of robots like the electric Atlas, what measures should be taken to ensure that they complement rather than replace human workers? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter
Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.
Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:
Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.