New Civil Liberties Alliance

The Supreme Court upheld the Trump administration's stance, affirming the Federal Communications Commission's authority to enforce data privacy fines on telecom companies like Verizon and AT&T. The 8-1 decision allowed the FCC to impose penalties for mishandling customer location data, though companies were granted a regulatory concession to delay payments. Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, while Justice Clarence Thomas dissented, arguing for a clearer path for companies to recoup paid fines.

The Supreme Court upheld the Trump administration's support for federal regulators enforcing data privacy laws on telecom companies, preserving the FCC's authority to impose fines. Verizon and AT&T challenged $100 million in penalties, arguing the FCC's process was unconstitutional, but the Court ruled the fines could be ordered without immediate payment.