Technology

FCC slaps AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile with mega fines for data deceit

Published

8 months ago

May 4, 2024

FCC slaps AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile with mega fines for data deceit

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.”

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.

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

For more of my tech tips & 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.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

Apple’s latest iPad Mini is down to its lowest price to date

Published

4 hours ago

January 14, 2025

Press Room

Apple’s latest iPad Mini is down to its lowest price to date

If you’re in the market for a highly portable tablet, Apple’s smallest tablet has fallen to its lowest price to date at multiple retailers. Right now, the latest iPad Mini is on sale at Amazon and Best Buy with Wi-Fi and 128GB of storage starting at $399 ($100 off). If you need more storage, you can also buy the step-up model with 256GB of storage for $499 ($100 off) or the 512GB variant for $699 ($100 off).

With its 8.3-inch screen and lightweight design, the latest iPad Mini is closer in size to the iPhone than any other tablet in Apple’s lineup. As a result, it’s easier to carry on the go and hold with one hand, making it an excellent option if you read a lot on your tablet. Its small size doesn’t come at the expense of performance, though. In fact, the onboard A17 Pro chip is snappier than the A14 Bionic chip found in the entry-level iPad, even if it’s not as speedy as the processors in the M4-powered iPad Pro or M2-powered Air.

Unlike the base iPad, the seventh-gen Mini supports Apple Intelligence, so you can take advantage of a host of AI-based features — such as AI-assisted summaries, Genmoji, ChatGPT, and the ability to erase unwanted objects in photos. It also supports the newer Apple Pencil Pro, along with Wi-Fi 6E and faster USB-C performance. They’re pretty iterative updates overall; however, they’re also a lot more appealing at $399 than they are at the tablet’s typical retail price of $499.

Technology

5-minute cleanup for your phone and computer

Published

5 hours ago

January 14, 2025

Press Room

5-minute cleanup for your phone and computer

Digital junk piles up faster than clutter in real life. There are files you don’t need, all those random screenshots, apps you downloaded and used once, and blurry photos clogging up your camera roll.

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It all adds up, slowing your devices down and making everything feel messy. The good news? Cleaning it up is easier than you think. Let’s do a quick declutter that will make you say, “Ahhh, that feels better.”

Step 1: Update your devices

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There are too many dangerous bugs out there to skip security patches.

On a Windows PC, head to Settings > Windows Update.
On a Mac, go to General > Software Update.
On an Android, tap Settings > System > Software.
On an iPhone, tap Settings > General > Software Update.

Start with your phone

Apps are space hogs

Scroll through your app list and delete any you’re not using anymore. If it’s been months, you’re not going to use it. Trust me. And even if you do want it later, great, download it again.

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While you’re at it, move the apps you want to spend less time using (Instagram for me) off your phone’s home screen. You can hide the app or just move it to another page or folder.

On iPhone:

Swipe left to get past all your app screens and open the App Library.
To delete, touch and hold an app icon > Delete App > Delete to confirm.

(Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

On Android:

Open the Google Play Store app, and tap your Profile icon.
Tap Manage apps & devices > Manage.
Select the name of the app you want to delete, then tap Uninstall.

TECH TIP: SAVE YOUR MEMORIES BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

There’s time for a quick photo cleanup

On iPhone or iPad, the Photos app makes this a breeze.

Open your Photos app and select Albums.
Scroll down and choose Duplicates. (Last time I checked, I had 2,933 duplicate photos and 49 videos!)
Hit Select > Select all, then tap the Trash icon to delete them. You can also select Merge to combine your dupes into one great shot.

On an Android, open the Files by Google app, select Clean, then:

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra smartphone is seen in South Korea

(SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Tap Confirm and free up > See junk files and select what you want to clear.
When you’re ready, tap Clear > Clear. That’s all it takes to remove screenshots, memes, duplicates and other junk mixed in with your important photos.

Onto your computer

Start with the desktop

Here’s the quick and dirty way. Create a new folder, then drag all the random files, screenshots and whatever else into it.

Pro tip: Sensitive documents have no place on your desktop. If you do insist on saving private docs locally, at least give a snoop a more challenging time by naming the folder something off-base like “Vacation Photos.” Be sure your computer automatically locks when you’re away and requires a password on startup, too.

Quick lock: For Windows, hit the Windows key + L. On a Mac, use Ctrl + Cmd + Q.

Kick out programs you don’t need or use

They take up a decent amount of space, so regularly clear out anything you’re not using. Beyond that, outdated apps could put you at risk. By keeping old programs on your computer, you’re potentially leaving a door wide open for cybercriminals to slip in.

On a Windows PC:

Click the Start button and look for the app or program. Press and hold (or right-click) the app and select Uninstall.

On a Mac:

Click the Finder icon in the Dock, then Applications.
If an app is in a folder, open it to look for an Uninstaller. Double-click it, then follow the onscreen instructions.
If an app isn’t in a folder or doesn’t have an Uninstaller, drag it from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Don’t forget the outside

We’re aiming for quick, so let’s tackle those fingerprint-covered screens.

On your phone, remove the case and accessories. You want to reach every nook and cranny. For a computer monitor, dust the back top, sides and any ledges that collect dirt before you start cleaning.

A microfiber cloth works, but I prefer screen-cleaning wipes. They’re just so easy. Skip paper towels. They’re too rough for delicate jobs like this.

I always come back to this 210-pack of screen cleaning wipes. Use them on smartphones, tablets, monitors, TVs, remote controls and even glasses. They’re scratch-free and made with anti-static tissue that cleans without leaving behind streaks or lint.

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Technology

Meta is already working on Community Notes for Threads

Published

12 hours ago

January 13, 2025

Press Room

Meta is already working on Community Notes for Threads

Meta announced last week that it would be ditching fact-checkers in favor of X-like Community Notes, and self-described “leaker” Alessandro Paluzzi shared screenshots on Monday showing what the feature might look like in Threads.

Based on the screenshots, it appears you’ll be able to start the process of writing a Community Note from the three-dots menu on a post, which is where you can already access features like muting an account or reporting a post. Another screenshot shows that when you write a Community Note, your note will be anonymous.

A third screenshot appears to show an Instagram help center page about Community Notes that has a button to join a waitlist for the program. However, the layout of the page looks different from other live help center pages I can see right now.

Meta didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.

Meta said last week that it plans to “phase in Community Notes in the US first over the next couple of months” and then “improve it over the course of the year,” but it hasn’t specified exactly when the feature might be available on Threads. My colleague Alex Heath reported Sunday that Community Notes “was not on the product roadmap before this week.”

In addition to the move to Community Notes, Meta said it’s also getting rid of “a number of restrictions” on topics like immigration and gender, and phasing “civil content” back into Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Instagram boss Adam Mosseri published a video today showing how to set the amount of political content you see on Threads.