Pallone on Completion of FCC’s Investigation of Unauthorized Disclosure of Real-Time Location Data

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Pallone on Completion of FCC’s Investigation of Unauthorized Disclosure of Real-Time Location Data

The following press release was published by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on Jan. 31, 2020. It is reproduced in full below.

Washington, D.C. - Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) issued the following statement today after Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai informed the Committee that the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau completed its investigation into wireless carriers’ unauthorized disclosure of real-time location data:

“Following our longstanding calls to take action, the FCC finally informed the Committee today that one or more wireless carriers apparently violated federal privacy protections by turning a blind eye to the widespread disclosure of consumers’ real-time location data. This is certainly a step in the right direction, but I’ll be watching to make sure the FCC doesn’t just let these lawbreakers off the hook with a slap on the wrist."

In November, 11 Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats sent a letter to Chairman Pai expressing their longstanding concerns that the FCC was failing to protect consumers’ privacy by refusing to hold wireless carriers accountable for unauthorized disclosures of consumers’ real-time location data. In December, Chairman Pai told the Committee that the results of the investigation would be announced by the end of January.

Source: House Committee on Energy and Commerce