Corporations could win privacy rights reserved until now for individuals if the U.S. Supreme Court finds in favor of AT&T in a case that will be heard early next year.

 

At issue is whether AT&T can block the release of company documents, previously delivered to the Federal Communications Commission, as part of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The FCC intended to turn over the AT&T materials to comply with the FOIA request, when the company sued to stop the government and won a ruling before a federal appeals court.

 

AT&T lawyers claim the release of the information would constitute “an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy,” meaning a corporation should be entitled to the privacy rights ordinarily associated with people.

 

The government is opposing the company’s attempt to redefine personal privacy in the case AT&T v. FCC.

 

FOIA supporters fear the granting of personal privacy rights to corporations could cripple citizen efforts to obtain information through the landmark act.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Do Corporations Have Personal Privacy Rights? (by Steven Aftergood, Secrecy News)

FCC v. AT&T (Electronic Privacy Information Center)