Securus Leak of Prison Call Records Underscores Importance of FCC Oversight

[Commentary] Recently, investigative journalists at the Intercept revealed that Securus, a nationwide provider of phone and video services to jails and prisons, suffered a massive security breach when someone obtained, and then leaked, records of more than 70 million phone calls by prisoners across the country, along with links to downloadable recordings of those calls. Securus has disclaimed responsibility for the breach and denies selling call recordings and information. During the week of Nov 30, the Federal Communications Commission issued a response.

Regardless, this incident raises important questions about whether Securus (and, by extension, other phone providers) is living up to its security promises or its legal obligations to protect its users’ data. As the agency charged with overseeing privacy protections for telecommunications consumers, the FCC has the authority and expertise to investigate these allegations of misconduct. The FCC should heed this wake-up call to thoroughly investigate these issues. As the agency responsible for protecting consumer privacy in telecommunications services, it’s up to the FCC to do right by all our data and investigate Securus -- because if companies can record confidential communications in prisons, they could do so anywhere.