SCOTUS Rules Against AT&T, Verizon Over Fines For Selling Location Data

The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday against AT&T and Verizon in a closely watched dispute over federal penalties tied to the sale of consumers’ real-time location data.

The nation’s highest court held that the Federal Communications Commission’s enforcement process does not violate the constitutional right to a jury trial.

The decision preserves the FCC’s authority to impose financial penalties through its administrative enforcement system.

It is a major victory for federal regulators seeking to police privacy violations in the telecommunications industry.

The case reached the Supreme Court after a split among federal appeals courts.

Last year, AT&T persuaded the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to throw out an FCC fine, arguing that the agency’s process improperly bypassed a jury.

Verizon, however, lost a similar challenge before the 2nd Circuit, creating conflicting rulings that prompted Supreme Court review.