Bush admin. trying to stop lawsuit: AT&T accused of helping NSA spying

[dajoki]

A News.com report on all things security.
http://news.com.com/2061-10789_3-6066688.html


U.S. trying to halt suit against NSA
April 28, 2006 7:41 PM PDT

It's official: The Bush administration formally said Friday that it will try to halt a lawsuit that accuses AT&T of helping the National Security Agency spy on Americans illegally.

In an 8-page document (PDF) filed with a federal court in the northern district of California, the U.S. Justice Department said it will intervene in the lawsuit and try to have it tossed out of court.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights group based in San Francisco, filed the class action lawsuit against the federal government in January. The suit claims AT&T's alleged cooperation violates free speech and privacy rights found in the U.S. Constitution and also contravenes federal wiretapping law, which prohibits electronic surveillance "except as authorized by statute."

A Los Angeles Times article dated Dec. 26 quoted an unnamed source as saying the NSA has a "direct hookup" into an AT&T database that stores information about all domestic phone calls, including how long they lasted. In addition, EFF said earlier this month that it has unearthed possibly-confidential documents describing a "dragnet" scheme in use by AT&T. (AT&T, which has repeatedly declined to comment, has asked that the documents be returned.)

The Justice Department said in its filing that the "United States intends to assert the military and state secrets privilege" and have the case dismissed.

[peacetalksforall]

1. Every day in every way we have BIIGGG government. Tell me that

this is not as bad as the USSR?

[dajoki]

2. I can't n/t

[chill_wind]

3. Yup. His own big-time KGB at every level

More background at the EFF site

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/

[chill_wind]

4. K&R

(recommend- wouldn't let me, but I tried..)

[Joe Fields]

5. The EFF's only hope is for a long trial. I must be dragged out ....

over the remainder of Bush's administration, for them to have a chance to succeed on our behalf.

[AtomicKitten]

6. I posted this two days ago and nobody cared.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2597706&mesg_id=2597706

[chill_wind]

8. I do.

I'm sorry I didn't see your link. I'm amazed it got no responses, and that this one has gotten so few as well so far.

[AtomicKitten]

9. I care too.

Glad people are taking a look at it, albeit an amazing few. Sometimes the lack of interest in really interesting things surprises me too. Oh well, we did our part. :)

[Supersedeas]

7. the operating procedures of private companies have become an arm

of the military/intelligence gathering wing of the Federal bureaucracy.

Is this what you sign up for when you pick up the tele?