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