The events that led to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) imposing the largest-ever fine for data privacy violations on AT&T read a bit like a James Patterson novel. There were polygraphs administered, back-alley deals with a member of the Mexican underworld and hundreds of thousands of customer records being sold. Luckily, unlike a Patterson novel, the end result wasn’t a grisly crime scene but rather a consent agreement with the FCC that includes a $25 million civil penalty, the hiring of a compliance officer who “shall be privacy certified by an industry certifying organization” and other obligations going out seven years. Sam Pfeifle interviews a host of FCC watchers to let you know what it all means for the future of privacy enforcement in the U.S.
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