FCC Orders Top Carriers To Explain How They Use and Share Phone Location Data (arstechnica.com) 17
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has ordered mobile carriers to explain what geolocation data they collect from customers and how they use it. Rosenworcel's probe could be the first step toward stronger action -- but the agency's authority in this area is in peril because Congress is debating a data privacy law that could preempt the FCC from regulating carriers' privacy practices.
Rosenworcel sent letters of inquiry Tuesday "to the top 15 mobile providers," the FCC announced. The chairwoman's letters asked carriers "about their policies around geolocation data, such as how long geolocation data is retained and why and what the current safeguards are to protect this sensitive information," the FCC said. The letters also "probe carriers about their processes for sharing subscriber geolocation data with law enforcement and other third parties' data-sharing agreements. Finally, the letters ask whether and how consumers are notified when their geolocation information is shared with third parties," the FCC said. "Mobile Internet service providers are uniquely situated to capture a trove of data about their own subscribers, including the subscriber's actual identity and personal characteristics, geolocation data, app usage, and web browsing data and habits," the letters say. Under US communications law, carriers are prohibited from using or sharing private information except under specific circumstances. Rosenworcel told carriers to answer the questions by August 3.
[...] Among other things, Rosenworcel's letters ask carriers to describe in detail the geolocation data they collect and retain from customers, to explain why such data is retained for current and former subscribers, how long the data is retained for, a description of safeguards used to protect the data, and what country or countries the geolocation data is stored in. The letters also ask for details regarding how data retention policies are disclosed to subscribers, data deletion policies, and whether subscribers can opt out of data retention. A second list of questions focused on data sharing asks for each carrier's "process and policies for sharing subscriber geolocation data with law enforcement;" for descriptions of "the arrangements, agreements, and circumstances in which [the carrier] shares subscriber geolocation data with third parties that are not law enforcement;" and whether subscribers are "notified of the sharing of their geolocation information with third parties that are not law enforcement." The data-sharing section also probes whether the carriers let customers opt out of programs that share data with third parties. Because geolocation data is highly sensitive and can be combined with other types of data, "the ways in which this data is stored and shared with third parties is of utmost importance to consumer safety and privacy," Rosenworcel told carriers in the letters. Further reading: Homeland Security Records Show 'Shocking' Use of Phone Data, ACLU Says
Rosenworcel sent letters of inquiry Tuesday "to the top 15 mobile providers," the FCC announced. The chairwoman's letters asked carriers "about their policies around geolocation data, such as how long geolocation data is retained and why and what the current safeguards are to protect this sensitive information," the FCC said. The letters also "probe carriers about their processes for sharing subscriber geolocation data with law enforcement and other third parties' data-sharing agreements. Finally, the letters ask whether and how consumers are notified when their geolocation information is shared with third parties," the FCC said. "Mobile Internet service providers are uniquely situated to capture a trove of data about their own subscribers, including the subscriber's actual identity and personal characteristics, geolocation data, app usage, and web browsing data and habits," the letters say. Under US communications law, carriers are prohibited from using or sharing private information except under specific circumstances. Rosenworcel told carriers to answer the questions by August 3.
[...] Among other things, Rosenworcel's letters ask carriers to describe in detail the geolocation data they collect and retain from customers, to explain why such data is retained for current and former subscribers, how long the data is retained for, a description of safeguards used to protect the data, and what country or countries the geolocation data is stored in. The letters also ask for details regarding how data retention policies are disclosed to subscribers, data deletion policies, and whether subscribers can opt out of data retention. A second list of questions focused on data sharing asks for each carrier's "process and policies for sharing subscriber geolocation data with law enforcement;" for descriptions of "the arrangements, agreements, and circumstances in which [the carrier] shares subscriber geolocation data with third parties that are not law enforcement;" and whether subscribers are "notified of the sharing of their geolocation information with third parties that are not law enforcement." The data-sharing section also probes whether the carriers let customers opt out of programs that share data with third parties. Because geolocation data is highly sensitive and can be combined with other types of data, "the ways in which this data is stored and shared with third parties is of utmost importance to consumer safety and privacy," Rosenworcel told carriers in the letters. Further reading: Homeland Security Records Show 'Shocking' Use of Phone Data, ACLU Says
GOP stance (Score:4, Insightful)
Just remember folks No oversight, no regulation, small government means less protection from abusive companies. These companies sure as hell are not looking out for us and only want the breaks because they are "job creators".
Re:GOP stance (Score:4, Insightful)
Of course, otherwise how can the Texas law work?
Turns out Roe v. Wade has far reaching effects into the economy and company's business models than previously thought.
With laws in Texas encouraging reporting people "who might" have got an abortion with a reward of $10,000 per report, suddenly location data has become a big deal. Because if you can see your neighbour has been visiting the "naughty" places when they traveled out of state, that's a cool $10K for you, paid for by your neighbour.
And you can bet data brokers will suddenly have a lot of requests for information like this because it's suddenly very valuable. I expect whole sets of businesses in Texas popping up where they do nothing but buy location data of people and see if they went to the "no-no" places.
Location data is suddenly not so innocent and carriers that used to freely sell it might end up in trouble selling it to the "wrong people".
Re: (Score:2)
People forget how much of the Roe vs. Wade decision was about privacy, not abortion per se. Reversing that decision affects privacy protections even for those who cannot become pregnant.
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Yep, I can answer both questions for them and I don't even work there:
a) "As much as technically possible", and
b) "Sell it to anybody who's willing to pay for it".
The carriers are arms-length law enforcement. (Score:3, Informative)
Re: The carriers are arms-length law enforcement. (Score:2)
Actually, I use my phone to surf the web or access my music from outside of the house's wifi range, several times per week. Wifi is pretty widely available, but still not everywhere (e.g. roads) so I've found cell phones to be a nice backup.
This post would probably seem less weird if I had written it 20 years ago.
Re: (Score:3)
GPS information (or equivalent) is mandated to be included on all phones due to the Enhanced 911 feature required by the FCC.
[T]he FCC requires wireless carriers...to begin providing information that is more precise to PSAPs, specifically, the latitude and longitude of the caller. This information must meet FCC accuracy standards, generally to within 50 to 300 meters, depending on the type of technology used. https://www.fcc.gov/general/en... [fcc.gov]
'Just our partners' (Score:3)
The answer from them ought to be obvious (Score:3)
"However we see fit."
Oh Hogwash (Score:3)
They are doing it for the good of the people. And they promise to answer everything forthwith and honestly.
Re: (Score:2)
They are doing it for the good of the people. And they promise to answer everything forthwith and honestly.
I looked it up in the Corporate Dictionary v989834321.88, and it says "forthwith and honest[ly]" is, "No more than a verbal response with a straight face: 'I'm uncertain. I'll get back to you with the information, Senator.'" /h
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First we log everything (Score:2)
Then in accordance with NSL, we provide it to the NSA
Never Forget QWest [wikipedia.org]
Winston says... (Score:2)