Defense contractor KBR bans personal cell phones

[douglas9]

Source: Associated Press

HOUSTON -

Defense contractor KBR Inc. said it has banned the sue of personal cell phones by its employees in Iraq for security reasons.

In an e-mail to The Associated Press on Saturday night, KBR spokeswoman Heather L. Browne confirmed the company had notified its employees in Iraq that use of personal cell phones is prohibited.

Browne said the decision was because of "a safety and security concern." She declined to elaborate, but did say KBR officials are reviewing the matter that led to the directive.

The Houston-based company split off from Halliburton in 2007.

n/t

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/printa-1518633~Defense_contract...

[hobbit709]

1. Translation: We can't monitor whistle-blowing

[tpsbmam]

2. Translation #2: most cell phones these days have cameras on them. n/t

[Ed76638]

3. They don't want anymore rape victims calling home for help. n/t

[rAVES]

4. all 3 previous replys!

[EFerrari]

10. Bingo!

[lynnertic]

14. The FBI can wiretap anyone's cellphones now like *that*

by remotely turning on the microphone and recording the ambient sound (ie all conversations within range of the cellphone's mic).
Pvt cells aren't allowed in secure govt buildings anymore either.

http://seclists.org/politech/2006/Dec/0000.html
Politech: FBI activates cell phones' microphones for surveillance when no call is being made?

[Cronus Protagonist]

16. I read the affidavit and it does not say that

SUre, the web site with the links says that, but the affidavit requests permission for surreptitious entry into the premises of the subject for the purpose of installing, maintaining and removing an electronic surveillance device from his cell phone. If the phone could simply turned into a listening device without such entry, why would the special agent have to request permission to burgle? He wouldn't need to do so if the claims about cell phones were true in all cases, and surely the phone in the case provided as an example did not have that capability.

[Heywood J]

5. How many phones know how to automatically upload to Youtube or Facebook? NT

[blackspade]

6. what a disgrace.

KBR executives should be held liable and the company dissolved for all the crimes it has committed in Iraq.

[L0oniX]

7. We don't want raped and sexually assaulted women making 911 calls.

[MidwestTransplant]

8. I believe they may have teh ability to turn on the phone speaker remotely.

[Demeter]

9. So, KBR Is Feeling a Little Insecure?

Good.

[Loudmxr]

11. I'm sure KBR company issued cell phones will be just fine.

However if you try and call Keith Olbermann it will electrocute you.

[LiberalFighter]

12. Program the KBR boss phones to auto call KO and then electrocute them.

[LiberalFighter]

13. ban the sue?

I checked other sites that had the story and most had the misspelling. That means the AP had the original misspelling. While those that published the story as is didn't even bother proofing.

I wonder where they get their workers? India?

[MorningGlow]

15. Wow, that IS sloppy

I used to work on a local news station's Web site, and if we picked up an AP story, or even part of it, I'd read it over for gaffes like that. And yes, I often corrected spelling and grammar, as the AP folks are sometimes in a rush to file the story. However, there were plenty of station employees who DIDN'T bother to check the AP story--the believed AP's word was good as gold.