Court rejects Verizon claim that selling location data without consent is legal (arstechnica.com)

Article summary

A US Court of Appeals has rejected Verizon's challenge to a $46.9 million fine for selling customer location data without consent. The court ruled that the location data is protected under the Communications Act and that Verizon had the option to decline paying the fine and seek a jury trial. The decision may lead to a Supreme Court review due to conflicting rulings in other circuits. The case highlights the ongoing debate over data privacy and the role of telecommunications companies in protecting customer information.

Main themes

• data privacy
• telecom regulation
• corporate accountability
• executive responsibility
• legal protections
• technological ethics
• surveillance capitalism

What commenters say

• Selling location data without consent is unethical and should be criminalized with severe penalties for companies and executives.
• Employees should not be held responsible for unethical practices if they are coerced by their employers.
• The fine imposed on Verizon is insufficient and should be increased to deter similar practices in the future.
• The law should be revised to match technical reality and provide clearer protections for customer data.
• Executives should be held personally accountable for the damage caused by their companies.
• The practice of selling location data without consent is likely to continue unless there are significant consequences for companies that engage in it.
• The court's decision is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to protect customer privacy.
• The fine is just a cost of doing business for Verizon and will not deter them from similar practices in the future.