Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Federal judge grants final approval to AT&T's $177 million data breach settlement
Ruling
A federal judge granted final approval to AT&T's combined $177 million settlement covering two data breaches disclosed in 2024 that exposed personal information of millions of current and former AT&T customers, with breaches dating back as far as 2019. Eligible claimants who filed by the December 18, 2025 deadline are expected to receive payments after the appeals period expires around November 8, 2026, with distribution within 60 days and payments possibly arriving as late as early January 2027.
Company response
Refund or compensation — AT&T
Now, with the judge's final approval, those who submitted a claim can receive their payments soon.
Clarification — AT&T
“This is an industry problem,”
Source excerpt
Payments should be going out after the appeals period has expired, which is expected to expire around November 8, 2026. The settlement calls for payments to be distributed within 60 days of that date, meaning payments could arrive as late as early January 2027.
AT&T reached a combined $177 million settlement over two data breaches that were disclosed in 2024. The breaches involved millions of current and former AT&T customers and dated back as far as 2019.
A federal judge has granted final approval in AT&T's settlement involving breaches that exposed customers' personal information.
2026
FCC fines four companies over 911 outages
Fine or penalty
The FCC's Enforcement Bureau settled investigations into AT&T, Lumen Technologies, Intrado, and Verizon over 911 outages and failures to notify the FCC and 911 operators. The companies were to pay a combined $6 million and implement a compliance plan.
The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau settled investigations into AT&T, Lumen Technologies, Intrado, and Verizon over 911 outages and failures to notify the FCC and 911 operators. The companies were to pay a combined $6 million and implement a compliance plan.
Source excerpt
The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has settled investigations into AT&T, Lumen Technologies (CenturyLink at the time), Intrado, and Verizon for 911 outages last year.
Together, the companies will pay $6 million for the outages, and for failing to alert the FCC and 911 operators about the outages. The companies also had to agree to implement a compliance plan.
2022
AT&T appeals age-discrimination judgment
Lawsuit filed
AT&T Mobility Services LLC appealed a post-trial judgment in an age-discrimination case to the Third Circuit and said it would also appeal the court’s summary-judgment ruling and rejection of its post-trial motions. The court had awarded the former employee $2.3 million, and a judge had rejected AT&T’s post-trial arguments.
Source excerpt
The court awarded the plaintiff $2.3 million including back and front pay and liquidated damages.
On Monday, AT&T Mobility Services LLC appealed a post-trial judgment to the Third Circuit in an Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) case.
Despite her excellent 23-year record with AT&T as its Director of Sales, the plaintiff was fired at 49 as a result of the company-wide “Workforce 2020” plan to reduce what it viewed as an aging workforce, the complaint said.
2021
AT&T settles District of Columbia overcharging lawsuit
Settlement
AT&T agreed to pay the District of Columbia $1.5 million to settle a lawsuit over alleged overcharging under a 2012 services contract. The Office of the Attorney General alleged that AT&T submitted false invoices and charged for features and services that did not meet the contract’s requirements.
Source excerpt
According to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), however, AT&T allegedly submitted “false invoices that did not comply with contract requirements to provide cost optimization and the most cost-effective telecommunications plans available.
AT&T has agreed to pay $1.5 million to the District of Columbia as a result of overcharging the District for years.
2021
SEC sues AT&T over disclosures to analysts
Lawsuit filed
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sued AT&T, alleging that it provided nonpublic information to analysts so they would lower revenue expectations ahead of a quarterly report.
Source excerpt
美国证券交易委员会(SEC)起诉AT&T向20家不同的分析公司提供非公开信息，让分析公司在AT&T的季度营收报告出来前，降低对其收入预期。
the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it charged AT&T, Inc. and its investor relations executives, Christopher Womack, Michael Black, and Kent Evans, with multiple violations of an agency fair disclosure rule after the executives reportedly held private calls with industry analysts during which they selectively disclosed financial results.
2021
Network Apps sues AT&T over Twinning Solution
Lawsuit filed
Network Apps filed a complaint against AT&T entities alleging breach of contract and patent infringement related to its Twinning Solution. The allegations are described as claims by the plaintiffs, not as established findings.
Source excerpt
On Tuesday, Network Apps filed a complaint against various AT&T entities in the Southern District of New York for breach of contract and patent infringement regarding the plaintiffs’ Twinning Solution, which enables phone calls placed to a single phone number to be received, answered or made on multiple devices.
2020
AT&T clarifies 3G shutdown email and apologizes
Company response
AT&T sent an email to certain customers about the future 3G shutdown that caused concern because it omitted that support would continue until early 2022. The company subsequently clarified the email's purpose, acknowledged that it should have included the support end date, apologized for the confusion, and stated that future updates would be clearer.
After an email to certain customers about the future 3G shutdown caused concern because it omitted that support would continue until early 2022, AT&T clarified the email's purpose, acknowledged that it should have included the support end date, apologized for confusion, and said future updates would be clearer.
Company response
Clarification — AT&T
This email was one of many planned to keep customers informed about the shutdown of our 3G network in early 2022,
Apology — AT&T
We apologize for any confusion this may have caused
Ongoing disclosure — AT&T
and will be more clear in future updates.
Source excerpt
AT&T caused a bit of an uproar yesterday when it was revealed that customers were receiving emails from the 2nd place U.S. wireless carrier proclaiming that it would “soon be upgrading our network”. The email went on to describe how the customer’s current smartphone “is not compatible with the network and you need to replace it to continue receiving service”.
We apologize for any confusion this may have caused and will be more clear in future updates
Well, an AT&T spokesperson reached out to Gizmodo and apologized for the confusion, writing in an email:
2019
AT&T to pay $60 million to settle unlimited-plan allegations
Settlement
AT&T agreed to pay $60 million to settle a government allegation that it misled customers of unlimited-data plans by slowing down service for heavy users. The FTC said AT&T must prominently disclose restrictions on data speeds or amounts. The settlement addresses the claim that customers were misled about the unlimited nature of their plans.
AT&T will pay $60 million to settle the government’s allegation that it misled customers of unlimited-data plans by slowing down service for heavy users. The FTC said AT&T must prominently disclose restrictions on data speeds or amounts.
Company response
Refund or compensation — AT&T
The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday that AT&T will automatically provide partial refunds to customers who signed up for unlimited wireless plans before 2011.
Source excerpt
The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday that AT&T will automatically provide partial refunds to customers who signed up for unlimited wireless plans before 2011.
The agency says AT&T is required to say prominently if data speeds or amounts are restricted.
AT&T issued a brief statement acknowledging that it had reached a settlement with the FTC.
2019
BBiTV sues AT&T and Dish over streaming patents
Lawsuit filed
BBiTV filed three lawsuits in federal court in Waco, Texas, alleging that AT&T’s U-verse and DirecTV platforms and Dish Network’s satellite TV service violated four patents related to video-on-demand services using set-top boxes and mobile apps. The article reports allegations, not a court determination.
Source excerpt
BBiTV has filed three lawsuits in a Waco, Texas federal court, alleging that AT&T’s U-verse and DirecTV platforms, and Dish Network’s satellite TV service, have each violated four of its patents “specifically related to VOD services using set top box and mobile app technology.”
1974
United States antitrust case against AT&T
The U.S. Department of Justice brought a major antitrust action alleging that AT&T used the structure and advantages of the Bell System to restrict competition. The case ended in a 1982 settlement requiring the breakup of the company's local telephone monopoly.