House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai requesting a briefing on the disclosure of data by wireless carriers, E&C said Friday.
Rep. Pallone urged Pai to identify and discuss actions taken by the FCC to resolve the issue of wireless carriers disclosing the real-time location data of consumers without authorization. Pallone said that unless the government immediately addresses this issue, the privacy and security of wireless phone service subscribers such as military personnel, domestic violence victims, law enforcement staff and government officials will be compromised.
The letter cites the Communications Act of 1996, which mandates wireless carriers and related vendors to protect the information of their customers and obtain consent before sharing such information to other parties. Some wireless carriers have announced their commitment to end unauthorized disclosure in June after Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and the media brought the issue to light in May.