FCC proposes fines for disclosing customers’ real-time locations

The Federal Communications Commission is proposing about $200 million in fines combined for the four major U.S. phone companies for improperly disclosing customers’ real-time location. Location data makes it possible to identify the whereabouts of nearly any phone in the U.S.áAccording to published reports, wireless companies had allowed data brokers to pinpoint the location of wireless devices without their owners’ knowledge or consent. The fines amounted to $91 million for T-Mobile, $57 million for AT&T, $48 million for Verizon and $12 million for Sprint.áCompanies can object to the proposed fines.