Skip to main content

AT&T to stop selling location data to third parties after explosive report

Earlier this week, a report emerged from Motherboard highlighting that AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint were selling user information to third-party services, and that the data was often winding up in the wrong hands. Now, however, AT&T is attempting to fix the issue — and has announced that it will stop selling customers’ location data to third-party services.

In the Motherboard report, a bounty hinter was able to successfully track down a reporter’s T-Mobile device thanks to a location data aggregator, MicroBilt. T-Mobile didn’t have a partnership with MicroBilt though. Instead, MicroBilt was acquiring its data through Zumigo, which was a T-Mobile partner.

Recommended Videos

In response to the report, lawmakers called on the Federal Communications Commission to investigate the practice, after which both T-Mobile and Sprint announced that they would end the programs through which they sold location data to third parties.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

“Last year we stopped most location aggregation services while maintaining some that protect our customers, such as roadside assistance and fraud prevention,” an AT&T spokesman said in a statement to Washington Post. “In light of recent reports about the misuse of location services, we have decided to eliminate all location aggregation services – even those with clear consumer benefits.”

There are some location-tracking services that offered benefits to consumers. For example, some location data can be used in fraud prevention and for emergency services. Both T-Mobile and AT&T have said that they will stop selling the data to third-parties by March. In Verizon’s announcement, the company told customers that they would have to expressly give Verizon permission to share data with services like roadside assistance firms.

Of course, there is some skepticism surrounding the announcements. Carriers have said in the past that they would stop selling location data to third parties, even though the practice continued. Both AT&T and Verizon announced in June that they would end location data-sharing contracts — however it seems that the announcement was limited to contracts with some specific trackers.

Data collection by carriers and other companies is likely to become more of an issue as time goes on. In 2018, public concerns over privacy hit an all-time high thanks to scandals involving Facebook and other tech companies.

Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
Google is testing shortcut for the upcoming ‘AI Mode’ for search on mobile
Google search on Android app.

Google is ramping up efforts to make AI overviews more comprehensive and visible in search results. As it looks to evolve the overviews into more elaborate responses, the search giant might also include them in search results on mobile apps on Android and iOS.

Google is reportedly experimenting with a shortcut within its Android app for the expected "AI Mode," which is currently being tested internally. Android Authority reverse-engineered the WIP feature and discovered an AI mode shortcut that sits right under the search bar.

Read more
With this new Android 16 feature, you’re one click away from enhanced protection
Someone holding a phone showing the Android 16 logo on its screen.

Android 16 is set to offer improved security for apps and services. Android Authority says this feature allows users to enhance their device’s security with a single click, surpassing Google’s Advanced Protection Program introduced in 2017.

The current feature is available to anyone with a Google account. It is recommended for individuals at higher risk of attacks, such as political campaign staff, journalists, activists, and business leaders. The program implements security keys or passkeys for signing in, provides additional protection against harmful downloads, and safeguards personal information by restricting access to Google Account data. Additionally, it offers enhanced protection against phishing and unauthorized access.

Read more
X Premium+ tier gets an absurd price hike, thanks to Grok-3 AI
Details of X Premium+ subscription seen on a phone.

Less than a day after announcing the Grok-3 AI model, Elon Musk-led X has hiked the price of a subscription tier that opens the doors for xAI’s next-gen AI chatbot. Access to the new Grok-3 model is available for only X Premium+ subscribers, and folks who pay for the new SuperGrok standalone subscription.

As of the first week of February, the Premium+ tier started at $22 per month, or $299 for the annual plan. Following the Grok-3 launch, the monthly plan is now listed at $40, while the yearly plan will now cost $396 per account.

Read more