> Verizon and AT&T both said the fines violate their Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial, and that the location data doesn't fall under the law cited by the FCC.
I wonder how a jury would feel about their private information being sold without their consent.
They can feel all they want. If it’s not against the law it’s not against the law.
Call your congressman and ask for comprehensive federal personal data protections. Specifically, make it illegal for companies to sell your personal data or data about your behavior or habits.
Warn them that companies profiting from it will oppose it, but that the people need it.
The advertising industry worked just fine before deep targeting and would survive after it was impossible due to real data protection laws.
I’ve been jumping up and down saying this for the past few years. It’s so important. This is a perfect example of a problem that needs a legislative solution. The lack of one has created quagmires like TikTok that wouldn’t be a problem if we didn’t try to pretend it’s okay for domestic companies to take advantage of us either.
FWIW, the 7th Amendment doesn't speak directly to individual rights of the person: "In Suits at common law... the right of trial by jury shall be preserved". It's a right of parties in a court case, which even in the 18th century could be corporations.
Many portions of the US Constitution speak to "person", "persons", and "people", such as the 14th Amendment. And the 14th Amendment is often used to preempt state powers, for example making state governments subject to the 1st Amendment Freedom of Speech provision. But the 7th Amendment has never been incorporated against the states. An appeal to the 7th Amendment in a federal court case doesn't really touch upon the debate of corporate personhood, at least not the academic debate. Though, there may be other aspects of the case that do.
I wonder how a jury would feel about their private information being sold without their consent.