October Term 2010 · Docket 09-1279
Do corporations qualify for personal privacy exemptions under FOIA?
AT&T argues the law protects corporate privacy. The FCC argues it only protects human individuals.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
AT&T's lawyer argued the lower court correctly protected corporate privacy.
The FCC's lawyer argued the law protects only human individuals.
Justices questioned the scope of the term personal in this context.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-47
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether the Freedom of Information Act protects corporate privacy. AT&T claims the law covers business entities. The FCC claims it covers only human beings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 19, 2011.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
AT&T wants the court to confirm corporate privacy protections.
The FCC wants the court to limit protections to human individuals.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
What each side says
AT&T argues the statute protects the privacy of all organizations.
The FCC argues the statute protects only human personal privacy.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if privacy applies to corporate property.
Justice Ginsburg asked how the agency distinguishes employee privacy from corporate privacy.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-47
Why it matters
This case defines who receives privacy protections under federal disclosure laws. It affects how agencies handle business records. It shapes the balance between transparency and private interests.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-47
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.