AT&T and Verizon lost their appeal to overturn fines for selling users’ real-time location data without consent, as the Supreme Court ruled that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) process for issuing financial penalties did not violate the right to a jury trial. The Supreme Court's decision, made on June 4, 2026, was 8-1, with Justice Clarence Thomas dissenting. Previously, AT&T had successfully appealed its fine in the 5th Circuit, while Verizon lost in the 2nd Circuit. The Supreme Court's ruling reversed the 5th Circuit decision. In total, the FCC fined AT&T and Verizon $104 million in 2024 for violations that were revealed in 2018. The carriers had paid the fines and subsequently challenged them in circuit appeals courts, arguing that the system deprived them of their Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial.
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Supreme Court Rules Against AT&T and Verizon in Location Data Case
The Supreme Court ruled against AT&T and Verizon, affirming the FCC's authority to impose fines for selling users' location data without consent. The decision reversed a previous ruling by the 5th Circuit and upheld a total fine of $104 million against the carriers.
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AT&T and Verizon lose Supreme Court case over fines for selling location data
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Supreme Court Rules Against AT&T and Verizon in Location Data Case
