Dozens of AT&T/Verzion Wiretap Suits Dismissed Meet the new boss, same as the old boss... Thursday Jun 04 2009 08:57 EDT Tipped by taxpro Given Obama's support for telecom company immunity for handing over consumer data wholesale to the NSA without a warrant, it wasn't particularly surprising to see the administration perpetuate the Bush Administration's positions on domestic wiretapping and privacy (or the lack thereof). As the new administration repeats the positions of the old, a Federal Court yesterday dismissed dozens of lawsuits against AT&T and Verizon for privacy violations. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) says they'll appeal the ruling: quote: "We're deeply disappointed in Judge Walker's ruling today," said EFF Legal Director Cindy Cohn. "The retroactive immunity law unconstitutionally takes away Americans' claims arising out of the First and Fourth Amendments, violates the federal government's separation of powers as established in the Constitution, and robs innocent telecom customers of their rights without due process of law."
The EFF found themselves at the heart of the debate when they obtained documents (pdf) from 22-year technician Mark Klein, which highlighted how AT&T had built a room entirely dedicated to directly funneling data -- from multiple carriers -- wholesale to the NSA without a warrant or Judicial oversight. |
sirwoogieBlah Premium Member join:2002-01-02 Saline, MI
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Change...we can believe in. | |
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