Verizon Refuses Phone Records Query

[RamboLiberal]

Source: CBS News/AP

Now that Congress has given immunity to telecommunications companies that helped the government spy on Americans in suspected terrorism cases, a Maine legislator is asking Verizon anew if it turned over any customer records to the federal government.

As it has in the past when faced with such queries, Verizon Communications Inc. says it is not commenting on matters involving national security.

State Rep. Herbert Adams posed the question about phone records on July 18, eight days after President Bush signed into law a bill that overhauled government eavesdropping rules and granted immunity to telecommunications companies that helped the government monitor Americans in suspected terrorism cases.

The law in effect nullified a lawsuit by Maine which sought to know what kind of phone customer information was turned over to the National Security Agency as part of its anti-terror efforts. That and several other similar cases brought by consumers, privacy advocates and others had been consolidated before Congress granted immunity.

Adams, a member of the Legislature's Utilities and Energy Committee, posed similar questions about phone records to an executive for FairPoint Communications earlier this year. FairPoint is taking over Verizon's landline phone and Internet service in northern New England. While FairPoint said it had not turned over records, it said it could not speak for Verizon.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/27/national/main4297682.shtml

[BlooInBloo]

1. They only give records when the government wants to spy on political enemies.

[L. Coyote]

12. They allow the NSA to copy the entire optic feed, and we get to trust them after that.

[comtec]

2. It was my understanding that once immunity is given, you loose all rights to refuse

that is verizon M U S T comply with congress, NO MATTER WHAT, since they can not be (civilly) prosecuted... maybe they are worried that the truth is so bad that even THIS spineless congress would act?

[MannyGoldstein]

3. They Can Still Be Prosecuted Criminally

And hopefully they will be. I believe that one only has to testify if they have criminal immunity.

[nolabels]

7. Though disgusting and immoral the idea of laying it out bare naked....

by even dropping out the criminal prosecution would make getting to the bottom of it much simpler. The telecoms knew some of things they were doing were illegal but the element of them hiding behind the Bush's color of authority will make prosecution difficult. As long as someone can hide behind self-incrimination then the truth and ways to redress the situation will not be possible. Taking it out of the political arena and making it a law and order issue is the way to get rid of the football.

Knowledge and prevention of crime is a far greater tool then any prosecution. Nixon already paid the price for this and without his ignorance the conversation about fISA wouldn't even be taking place.

[librechik]

19. Oh yeah, that'll happen.

I lost all hope in these matters, Obama not withstanding.

[Eric J in MN]

14. Their refusing a state inquiry, not Congressional.

The FISA bill says that states can't even investigate phone privacy issues anymore.

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

4. I wonder if an employee would be legally protected under whistleblower rights

If that employee came out and revealed this information?

[groovedaddy]

8. I think the only way that would work, is if they were able to show

that Bush & co. were using the information for political reasons and not just national security.

[IA_Seth]

20. I would guess not..

If no laws are/were broken (since they now have immunity), it would be more like leaking corporate secrets than blowing a whistle.

Unfortunately I think this is now a dead end.

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

22. Then let's steal all their documents! Jk

Immunity isn't the same as legality, is it? Certainly it wouldn't be ILLEGAL for employees to divulge surveillance records?

[Demeter]

5. Telling Signs that the Game Is not Over--and the Criminals Are Not Yet Free

in the typically perverse nature of BushWorld, this is good news for us.

[Eric J in MN]

15. It's not good nrews. Verizon is saying No because...

...the FISA bill protects them from state inquiries.

[On the Road]

21. Fairpoint is Saying No

because they probably have no idea of what was turned over under previous ownership.

[valerief]

6. Verizon treats Congress like they're assclowns. Well, I guess

they've earned that level of disrespect.

[desktop]

9. Verizon just reaffirming corporations make the rules, not congress

Some people are under the mistaken impression, America is some kind of representative democracy or some such foolishness.

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. Verizon to Congress:

"Catch me, catch me, if you can. You just made me the fucking Gingerbread man."

[texastoast]

11. Switch to Working Assets/Credo

http://www.workingassets.com

They don't turn over your records.

[Sentath]

23. Credo = Sprint

Just so you know

[texastoast]

24. Working Assets uses Sprint's network

But they are a separate company.

[MasonJar]

13. Protest Verizon and AT&T. Do NOT use them. If enough people

would resis,t they would notice. Money is all they understand. Get rid of them today and let us start a campaign to get others to do the same. I got rid of both a long time ago, and I will never give either of those companies one penny of my money. Please join me!

[AlbertCat]

16. Sounds like routine Verizon

Never have I encountered such lousy and even smug customer service as with Verizon. They don't just treat Congress and State Reps this way, they treat EVERYBODY this way.

[Doctor_J]

17. So they can continue to spy w/ impunity AND take the 5th?

The Mafia could take lessons from the BFEE

[bemildred]

18. Yet another reason to get a new provider of cellphone services. nt