Alan Butler Executive Director and President | Official website
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is facing scrutiny over the security of phone network infrastructure amid concerns raised by experts in the field. Chris Frascella, a counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, expressed both optimism and apprehension regarding the FCC's actions in a recent communication.
Frascella commended the FCC for its focus on location data, stating, "It’s encouraging to see the FCC’s continued attention to location data." He also expressed optimism about the commission's commitment, saying, "I am optimistic that the commission will follow-through on its multiple lines of inquiry."
However, Frascella also highlighted a significant issue, noting that the FCC has not yet taken action on orders issued against major telecom carriers for the illegal resale of precise location data, despite these orders being issued over four years ago. He voiced his concern, stating, "But I am also concerned that the FCC still hasn’t published orders issued against prominent telecom carriers for the illegal resale of precise location data, despite their having been released more than four years ago."
In light of the existing gaps in federal privacy laws and ongoing cybersecurity vulnerabilities within carrier networks, Frascella emphasized the urgent need for regulatory bodies like the FCC to act swiftly in protecting consumer data. He stressed, "In the absence of a comprehensive federal privacy law, and in light of chronic carrier cybersecurity deficiencies, agencies like the FCC need to act more quickly to safeguard consumer data, including but not limited to phone subscriber location information."
The concerns raised by Frascella underscore the importance of addressing vulnerabilities in the phone network infrastructure to ensure the protection of consumer data and privacy. The FCC's response to these issues will be closely monitored as the investigation into the weaknesses in the phone network infrastructure progresses.
