Judge Calls for Data on Telecom Lobby
Privacy Group Sought Information on Warrantless Surveillance
An electronic privacy group challenging President Bush’s domestic spying program scored a minor victory when a judge ordered the federal government to release information about lobbying efforts by telecommunications companies to protect them from prosecution.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation in January 2006 filed a class-action suit against AT&T, accusing the company of illegally making communications on its networks available to the National Security Agency without warrants.
Congress is considering changing the law to grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that would protect them from such court challenges.
“Any attempt for immunity is aimed at getting these very important cases swept back under the rug,” EFF spokeswoman Rebecca Jeschke said yesterday.
The EFF wants to know about “discussions, briefings or other exchanges” telecommunications companies have had with the Officer of the Director of National Intelligence, according to the court order.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston said “all responsive, non-exempt documents” or anything required to be released under the Freedom of Information Act must be turned over by Dec. 10.
Ross Feinstein, a spokesman for the intelligence director, said that the department doesn’t comment on pending litigation but that “of course we comply with court orders.”
The president confirmed last December that the NSA has been conducting warrantless surveillance of calls and e-mails thought to involve al-Qaeda terrorists if at least one party to the communication was outside the United States.
The administration contends the program is legal and necessary.
© 2007 Associated Press
It must be so nice to have power without oversight. Must be a god-like feeling… or some kind of drug-high. No wonder they fight so vigerously to defend their power.
I’m sick of lobbies they are always up to no good. Corruption Corruption Corruption.
I’m part of this suit, and I WILL receive a large potion of ATT’s money because that is justice. Bullies like this have been sabotaging my life since 7/5/58, and karma will provide my gracious retirement.
Or this country is done.
Just plain good news. If this country is ever to get back its moral authority,{ I’m not sure it can]it must hold the privileged class accountable to its laws.
Damn, I feel good. I just cancelled my Verizon wireless and dumped ATT as my telephone carrier. Hit them where it hurts.
The government is not the only one to misuse your phone data. Everyone else has it too.
Every time I get a direct deposit I get barricaded with sales calls and bill collectors.
At least the gov. is too dumb to know what they are listening to.
evelyna “At least the gov. is too dumb to know what they are listening to.”
Dont underestimate the government and the corruption. Theyre not dumb - they know EXACTLY what theyre doing. Dont dismiss them as dumb or stupid. What theyre doing makes perfect sense, to them, but obviously not for us. They want power, money, immunity, period. Corporate power is very rational, to the misfortune of all of us, and the oppressed and exploited worldwide.
We were happier with tin cans and string anyway.
My mind has presented to me a thought. I’m not sure why it popped out, or in, or through, but I hope someone might intuitively recognize how or why I had this thought.
Are there any parallels between corporate lobbying
and the pseudo-democratic Electoral College?
~ A Student
[a humble student…]
Indirect Democracy?