Court Limits on Agency Monetary Penalties

The Supreme Court’s decision to hear consolidated challenges to FCC fines over carrier location‑data sales signals a test of whether federal regulators may impose civil penalties without jury procedures or other judicial safeguards. A ruling that narrows or removes an agency’s fine authority would force agencies to choose between rulemaking, civil litigation, or new statutory remedies to enforce privacy and consumer protections. — This has large implications for administrative law, consumer privacy enforcement, and how governments hold powerful private firms (carriers, platforms) accountable without new legislation.