Supreme Court Upholds $104M Fine for Location Data Sales

The Supreme Court just handed consumers a major win in the fight for privacy rights. In an 8-1 decision, justices ruled that AT&T and Verizon cannot escape $104 million in fines for selling customers' real-time location data without consent.

The violations came to light back in 2018 when investigators discovered something disturbing. The carriers had sold access to customer location data that ended up in the hands of bounty hunters and even a rogue sheriff, who used it to track people without their knowledge.

The FCC investigated and issued fines in 2024. Rather than accept responsibility, AT&T and Verizon claimed the penalty process violated their constitutional right to a jury trial.

Chief Justice John Roberts saw through the argument. He explained that the carriers always had the option for a jury trial by simply refusing to pay and letting the government take them to court. The FCC's process doesn't force anyone to pay immediately.

The carriers argued they had no choice because refusing to pay would cause reputational harm. The court dismissed this claim, noting that any party in legal proceedings faces similar risks, and this has never been a constitutional problem.

The Bright Side

This decision preserves the FCC's ability to investigate companies and propose meaningful penalties when they violate consumer trust. Without this power, the agency would lose one of its most effective tools for holding corporations accountable.

John Bergmayer from Public Knowledge put it plainly: the carriers tried to dodge accountability, and the Supreme Court confirmed that won't fly. The established system works because companies can always challenge fines in court if they choose.

The ruling also clarifies something important about government oversight. Federal agencies need the ability to investigate wrongdoing and propose consequences without lengthy court battles every single time. Otherwise, enforcement becomes nearly impossible.

For everyday phone users, this means stronger protection. Companies now know they cannot simply sell your personal data and then argue their way out of consequences on technical grounds.

The decision sends a clear message that consumer privacy matters more than corporate convenience.