T-Mobile has lost its bid to overturn fines imposed by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over the sale of location data. The decision marks a significant victory for regulators, who have been scrutinizing companies’ handling of sensitive customer information.
In 2020, T-Mobile agreed to pay $91 million in fines after the FCC found that it had sold customer location data without adequate consent from users. The company claimed that the data was used to improve network efficiency and provide better services.
However, the appeals court has now rejected T-Mobile’s efforts to overturn the fine, saying that the data sale did not meet the standards set by the US Communications Act of 1934. This legislation requires companies to obtain explicit consent from customers before sharing their location information.
The decision is significant, as it sets a precedent for other companies in similar situations. Regulators will likely continue to monitor the industry’s handling of customer data, and companies may face further fines or penalties if they fail to comply with regulations.
Source: https://www.mlex.com/mlex/articles/2377667/t-mobile-fails-to-get-us-fcc-fines-over-sale-of-location-data-overturned