WASHINGTON—The Federal Communications Commission fined LocateCell.com $97,500 for repeatedly failing to respond to subpoenas to provide information in connection with the agency’s investigation of data brokers that deceptively gain access to consumers’ cell phone records from mobile phone carriers.
It is the FCC’s first fine against a data broker and the stiffest allowable under the law. LocateCell.com can challenge the FCC action. The commission is investigating other data brokers, and also attempting to ascertain whether cellular carriers are liable for violating federal telecom consumer privacy regulations.
The practice of “pre-texting”—impersonating a wireless subscriber to gain access to that customer’s information—in the data broker industry has ignited federal legislation and a flood of lawsuits in the states.
