NEW YORK — U.S. regulators have proposed fining the four major U.S. phone companies more than $200 million combined for improperly disclosing customers' real-time location to other companies.
Location data makes it possible to identify the whereabouts of nearly any phone in the U.S. within seconds. Federal law requires that telecommunications companies protect the confidentiality of some customer data, including location information. The FCC said that those companies must try to protect against unauthorized attempts to gain access to this data and that they or those acting on their behalf must get consent from customers before using it.
Ooooh a fine … try jail for execs!