Wyden, Rosenworcel Urge Probes of Telcos Allegedly Selling Location Data

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is urging the FCC and the FTC to investigate whether AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint sold customers' real-time location data to bounty hunters (see 1901080046), a Wyden aide said Wednesday. Wyden told reporters that companies will continue to abuse data unless they are faced with real penalties under a new privacy law, calling it “wash, rinse and repeat.” FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel also called for her agency to investigate. Motherboard reported Sens. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Mark Warner, D-Va., also urged investigations. Agencies and Congress "should continue to hold hearings to shine a light on these practices, and look at regulations to ensure companies are actually upfront with consumers about whether and how their sensitive data is being used and sold," Warner said through a spokesperson. Harris' office didn't comment immediately. Wyden previously called for a probe.