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

In an 8-1 decision, the justices sided with the FCC and overturned the 5th Circuit’s ruling. Justice Clarence Thomas was the lone dissenter, ARSTechnica reported.

The ruling strengthens the federal government’s power to impose administrative penalties on companies accused of breaking telecommunications and privacy laws, while reducing a constitutional challenge that could have greatly restricted the enforcement powers of regulatory agencies.

The dispute stemmed from $104 million in FCC fines imposed on AT&T and Verizon in 2024 over allegations that the companies improperly handled customers’ real-time location data, conduct first brought to light in 2018, the outlet noted.