Verizon Sued for Giving Records to NSA

By BETH DeFALCO, Associated Press Writer 40 minutes ago

TRENTON, N.J. - Two New Jersey public interest lawyers sued Verizon Communications Inc. for $5 billion Friday, claiming the phone carrier violated privacy laws by turning over phone records to the National Security Agency for a secret government surveillance program.

Attorneys Bruce Afran and Carl Mayer filed the lawsuit Friday afternoon in federal district court in Manhattan, where Verizon is headquartered.

The lawsuit asks the court to stop Verizon from turning over any more records to the NSA without a warrant or consent of the subscriber.

"This is the largest and most vast intrusion of civil liberties we've ever seen in the United States," Afran said of the NSA program.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060512/ap_on_bi_ge/nsa_records_verizon

My cell phone service is Verizon!

Package would you believe?

furious with Verizon. But who do I switch to? I supposed I could go to Charter for land, but not cell.

Working Assets? http://www.workingforchange.com/webgraphics/nsa.html

:evilgrin:

Their stock didn't get hit too much today

http://www.google.com/finance?q=VZ

AT&T:
http://www.google.com/finance?q=T

:rofl: got a good belly laugh outta that one. :hi:

lol

They used to have a hilarious image database which included a half-dozen cartoons on the NSA, way back in the '90s. Here's one of the few I can find now:



http://www.subgenius.com/bigfist/pics6/a-misc-/a-miscTN/_nsa.html

:woohoo: :woohoo:

:kick:

We're forced to use Verizon for our local land line service. If anyone's suing AT&T, I want a piece of that, too, since they're our long distance carrier.

Our cell service is a little local company. They say they weren't asked to provide records.

eom

I wish now they would do it to SBC, AT&T which are part of my cell phone company Cingular.

April 28, 2006
Government Moves to Intervene in AT&T Surveillance Case
http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2006_04.php#004613
DOJ Will Assert Military and State Secrets Privilege and Request Dismissal of Lawsuit

San Francisco - The United States government filed a "Statement of Interest" Friday in the Electronic Frontier Foundation's (EFF's) class-action lawsuit against AT&T, announcing that the government would "assert the military and state secrets privilege" and "intervene to seek dismissal" of the case.

EFF's lawsuit accuses AT&T of collaborating with the National Security Agency in its massive surveillance program. EFF's evidence regarding AT&T's dragnet surveillance of its networks, currently filed under seal, includes a declaration by Mark Klein, a retired AT&T telecommunications technician, and several internal AT&T documents. This evidence was bolstered and explained by the expert opinion of J. Scott Marcus, who served as Senior Advisor for Internet Technology to the Federal Communications Commission from July 2001 until July 2005

Much of the evidence in the case is currently under seal, as AT&T claims public release of the documents would expose trade secrets. A hearing on the issue is scheduled for May 17th.

For the full Statement of Interest:
http://www.eff.org/legal/cases/att/USA_statement_of_interest.pdf

For more on EFF's suit:
http://www.eff.org/legal/cases/att/

Contact:

Rebecca Jeschke
Media Coordinator
Electronic Frontier Foundation
press@eff.org
Posted at 04:12 PM

"AT&T claims public release of the documents would expose trade secrets."
They don't mind sharing private information as long as it's not their private information.

Excellent.

This is my idea of a Friday News Dump.

Of the best kind.

And the lawsuit was filed today. How is this a "Friday news dump?"

Let the games begin. :bounce:

I hope these lawyers are good.

I've disliked Verizon service since I moved into an area with it. I hope the lawyers take them down!

I heard on Air America Radio that Qwest is owned by the Carlysle Group....bizzare

Our tax dollars at work!

Sue the suns a bitches for every plug nickle they ever touched, and we ain't even got to AT&T yet.

Putting the public back back in public utilities is what is needed here :kick:

let the good times roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :woohoo: and hopefully some heads too!!!!!!!!!!! :bounce: :applause:

this fit in?


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/0...

Administration cites state secrets in bid to derail spy lawsuit


As lawmakers demand answers about warrantless electronic eavesdropping on Americans, the Bush administration says its secretive program's constitutionality cannot be challenged.

The government is taking that position in seeking the dismissal of a lawsuit filed in federal court here against AT&T Inc. over its alleged involvement in the surveillance program adopted after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.

The federal government is invoking the "state secrets privilege" in arguing that the lawsuit must be thrown out because it threatens to divulge information that is deemed critical to national security.

"The state secrets privilege permits the government to protect against the unauthorized disclosure in litigation of information that may harm national security interests," the Justice Department wrote to the judge presiding over the lawsuit filed by the San Francisco-based Internet privacy advocate Electronic Frontier Foundation.

that someone wrote a story on this mis-administration being the most secretive in history! "State secrets privilege" is just a cover for them behaving in dictatorial fashion.

so they want to ignore the law when they're breaking it-- but wrap themselves in the law when trying to conceal what they've been up to.

That does not pass the smell test AT ALL.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2618990&mesg_id=2618990
Thread title: Remember this? Whistle-blower says AT&T gave spy agency access to network

Even though the administration is not named as a defendant in the suit, they are trying behind the scenes to quash the suit against AT&T. These guys are playing for keeps.

Just one more year and I'm off to T-Moble!

On to the discovery phase. Just off the top of my head:

--Who ordered this and why?

--What is the precise scope of the snooping?

--When did it start?

--How many NSA personnel are involved in this program?

--At what cost?

--What information are they looking for (other than dirt on BushCo political enemies)?

--Was anything productive on the anti-terrorism front EVER uncovered?

--Did AT&T et al. just roll over and play dead when asked to do this?

that most people don't mind their calling information being given to the feds.

"Most people are OK with it" - the lie goes. THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAW on the various polls around the internet. They're lying. Rove or SnowJob have them cowed and have obviously given them their scripts.

pollster of the Washpost....remember in an online chat, someone asked if he'd poll re: impeachement and he said: That question makes me mad? He's awful. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2005/12/19/DI2005121900972.html

He's the architect of the latest bs poll.

... now that Bushista appointees took over the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and replaced National Public Radio with Neocon Propaganda Radio. Such a tragedy. :cry:

when the new Democratic government has access to records of who donated or was involved with the Repugs. ;-)

That's not the standard this country was founded upon. Inalienable rights means they don't depend on an opinion poll. FCS.

volved in this disaster.

I am relieved to learn that T-Mobile did not join the KGB.

I doubt that is slowed them down much.

can dump BellSouth and go to cellphones only. Any tips or ideas?

To clarify :blush: : modem is a landline with BellSouth and I need to find a wireless internet provider so that I can then change my current satellite dish and dump the inside BellSouth lines.

I want some of that fascist loot!:bounce:

but I would rather see every State Attorney General file a lawsuit against these companies...like they did with the Tobacco companies in the 90's.

Put me down for four slices.

OH how sweet it is!!

Corporate ethics and government oversight have become a total joke and travesty.

Money and very costly legal punishment is the bottom line-- the only lesson they will comprehend and the only recourse for ordinary Americans. Let's hope it will be a long felt and remembered one by the perps. ALL the related perps.

BUST THEM HARD, as in *wipe them out of business* and JAIL some people!

Good news.

Kick for civil liberties everywhere.

and my DSL server. . .and...well, let me sign on as well!! !! !!

violation lawsuits all over the country.

just fabulous!

in the class action suit??

...sad stuff going on here...makes me sick to my stomach (yet once again)...

:puke:

...will be better than one of those non-existent tax rebates. As I understand it, the law they broke (OK, allegedly) calls for a minimum of $1,000 for each customer whose information was illegally provided. at&t, BellSouth...the money just keeps on keeping on.

Tell me, other than Qwest - which most of us can't do business with - what other local phone service providers have gone on record as refusing to provide the data? Comcast? Wireless companies? Certainly not Cingular (all that is is at&t and BellSouth). Seems to me it'd be a hell of a marketing tool for somebody if they'll get their shit together and absolutely promise never to provide the data.

An openly! progressive company.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1175190

Time to vote with our pocketbooks.

I just heard Mike Malloy on Air America Radio say that Qwest, the only company to refuse to give information to the NSA, is owned by none other than the Carlysle Group!!!! I dont know what to make of this little tidbit of information, but it SMELLS to high heaven if true.

life. From the movie theater you go to, to the flooring company which put in the floors you walk on, to the natural gas company which heats your house, to the construction company which built your house, to several radio and television stations you watch, to food, clothing, to... and so on and on.


The Carlyle Group is a large (if not the largest) private holding company which has its fingers in every pie.

more afraid or angered by that information. Am I crazy to feel like this is not a good thing?

Carlyle is nasty but there are no good guys in the phone industry. Do I think Carlyle is mining data, probably but not for the NSA.

There is a progressive phone carrier:
WorkingAssets
http://www.workingforchange.com/webgraphics/nsa.html

They requested and order from the FISA court, and after not receiving one, and on advisce of their lawyers, refused despite gov't pressure. GOOD for them. I am happy to be a Qwest customer (Long distance service).

We should OWN the fucking company when we're thru with these scumbags.

What's the fine PER OFFENSE again?

"Legal experts said the companies faced the prospect of lawsuits seeking billions of dollars in damages over cooperation in the program, citing communications privacy legislation stretching back to the 1930's. A federal lawsuit was filed in Manhattan yesterday seeking as much as $50 billion in civil damages against Verizon on behalf of its subscribers."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/13/washington/13phone.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

edit: alright, maybe not really 'possible', but the lawyers shooting for the stars should at least raise more attention, cable news can't resist any story that involes words such as 50 BILLION.

I never dreamed it would happen this quickly. I'm in.

QWEST is our long distance provider, thank G-d.

QWEST is our long distance provider, thank G-d. Hmmm...It seems like they Manipulated you pretty good!

Well, I'd rather give my biz to a company that protects my right to privacy and respects the law. If you call that "manipulation"- well, ok then. Manipulate away!

so I can get in on it.

I can't remember the last time I've been so angry over an issue...Oh wait...it was just yesterday because with Bushco, everyday reveals some new outrage!!!!

Toledo Blade poll-

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

How concerned are you with the Bush administration's efforts at domestic intelligence gathering?

Very- 56.8% (was 67.9% about an hour ago)

Somewhat- 6.8%

Not Very- 36.3%

Number of votes cast- 278

Two threads on this:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2281872
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1179222

A LOT is riding on this, folks.

Meanwhile, like clockwork, the WaPo publishes two big lies:

A totally bogus "poll" showing (surprise!) that a majority of Americans FAVOR the massive domestic NSA spying:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1174702
thread title (5-12-06 GD): Bogus WaPo/ABC poll on Americans' "support" of NSA spying-FIGHT THIS SCAM!

(And note in Reply #23 that the "poll" was done by a company whose primary clients are the Telcoms themselves)

And then today's big WaPo lie about the NSA spying scandal: a claim that the telcos are not liable. This one was written by a former Bush deputy asssistant:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1178358
thread title (5-13-06 GD): The Wash Post LIES AGAIN - claims the telcos aren't liable in NSA spying:

Remember too, how the telcos are eager for the Bushies to give them control over the internet. It's a move to fascism all around.

Oh yeah, those aspens are connected at the roots all right. This is a make-or-break situation and the cabal is throwing everything they have at it.

ttt!

I wonder if that's $1000 per phone call detail record? Between verizon and AT&T, we'd be set for the rest of our lives and they'd be out of business!

I read another estimate in the Chicago Tribune that estimated $50,000,000 in fines if they lose.

"Thank you for contacting Verizon Wireless through our website. I appreciate your inquiry regarding the government obtaining call records from customers. My name is Ameenah, and I am happy to assist you today.

We appreciate that the USA Today article and other reports about the possibility that the NSA is able to analyze local call data records is causing concern. Please be assured that Verizon Wireless places the highest value on protecting the privacy of our customers. Anything to do with the NSA is of course highly classified, so we can't comment on whether or not the news article causing concern is even accurate. But we can say that, to the extent that we cooperate with government authorities, we are confident that we are complying with all applicable statutes. We appreciate the continuing opportunity to provide you with service.

It has been a pleasure assisting you today, and we appreciate your business. Should you have additional questions or concerns, please reply to this e-mail."

Any who wish to join other Mainers in the Complaint Against Verizon document should print their names, addresses, and Verizon telephone number on it, and mail it with a short letter to Dennis L. Keschl, Administrative Director, Maine PUC, 242 State Street, Augusta ME 04330. The letter needs to say something like "I have read carefully the complaint and its attachments that was filed at the Commision on May 9, 2006, and I fully agree with it. I request that I be added as a complainant in PUC Docket No. 2006-274." It would also be good if the letter has this caption above the Dear Mr. Keschl:







RE: Request for Commission Investigation into

whether Verizon is cooperating in Maine

with the national security agency’s

warrantless domestic wiretapping program

Docket No. 2006-274

And then, on C-Span, some woman called in parroting the same Fox News spin that all the NSA "secret data" is available online to the public.

Luckily, the guest pointed out she was wrong. But I suspect all Fox viewers believe that you can click onto the internet and get the same stuff the NSA has been gathering.

In fact, I'm dying to find the phone records of Jack Abramoff on or about September 5, 2001, when the 9/11 terrorists visited his casino boat.

Or how about the Ken Mehlman's phone records around election day, 2002, specifically those calls to and from New Hampshire.

Judy Miller's phone records just before those anthrax letters went out would also be fascinating to see.

So let's see 'em. Show me where I can find them on the Internets, Republican scum, or just post 'em right here.

I'm waiting.