Verizon Wireless has been ordered to pay $1.35 million for its use of "Supercookies" in mobile traffic, following an investigation by the FCC. As a result, Verizon will have to make some changes to the way it delivers advertising to customers. The process will now require Verizon to get opt-in or opt-out consent from each customer before it is able to target ads at them.
From the FCC's ruling:
To settle this matter, Verizon Wireless will pay a fine of $1,350,000 and implement a compliance plan that requires it to obtain customer opt-in consent prior to sharing a customer's UIDH with a third party to deliver targeted advertising. With respect to sharing UIDH internally within Verizon Communications Inc. and its subsidiaries, it must obtain either opt-in or opt-out consent from its customers. Verizon Wireless will also generate customer UIDH using methods that comply with reasonable and accepted security standards.
Verizon will also be forced to adopt a three year compliance plan, but details of that were not released.
